Mazda 3 - 2008
398.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2008 is 340.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2008.
Sample size: 6,175 cars, 14,320 tests and 57,032 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 6,175 cars
The 2008 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 398 per 100 vehicles, which is 18% higher than the average for cars of the same year. It shows a notable increase in defects with higher mileage, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category. The model performs significantly better than average in the categories of brakes, steering, and visibility, with defects in these areas being lower than those typically found in similar vehicles. However, it is more prone to issues with lights and electrics, wheels, suspensions, and body structure, where defect rates are considerably higher than average.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 6,175 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 21.8% better
104.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 133.1 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 48.9% better
9.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.0 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 22.5% better
19.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 100 tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▼ 35.7% worse
125.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 92.2 / 100 tests
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 38.5% worse
429.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 310.3 / 100 tests
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▼ 16.4% worse
59.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.3 / 100 tests
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
Equipment
▲ 12.9% better
8.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 10.1 / 100 tests
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 2.2% better
40.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 41.2 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Emissions test unable to be completed
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7,608
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,057
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,567
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,263
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,986
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,974
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,922
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,907
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,849
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,721
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,986
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 847
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 618
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 608
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 545
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 516
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 505
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 449
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 402
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 393