Mazda 3 - 2009
358.8 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2009 is 311.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2009.
Sample size: 7,538 cars, 17,291 tests and 62,043 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: 7,538 cars
The 2009 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 359 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 16% higher than the average for its year at 310 defects per 100 vehicles. Notably, the Mazda 3 performs significantly better in steering and equipment issues, with defect rates lower by 39% and 22% respectively. However, it struggles in the categories of lights and electrics, as well as wheels, suspensions, and axles, with defect rates 30% and 32% higher than the average. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase steadily with higher mileage, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category. Overall, while the Mazda 3 excels in certain areas, it also faces challenges in critical aspects that could affect safety and performance.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 7,538 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 5.7% better
110.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 117.5 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 40.5% better
9.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 16.3 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- 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: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 10.7% better
20.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.4 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 29.2% worse
104.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.9 / 100 tests
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- 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
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 29.7% worse
388.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 299.8 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▼ 1.4% worse
42.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 41.5 / 100 tests
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
Equipment
▲ 24.1% better
6.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.3 / 100 tests
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- 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
- 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
Other
▼ 0.3% worse
34.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 34.4 / 100 tests
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- 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
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: 9,133
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,034
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,398
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,089
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,532
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,397
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,993
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,786
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,659
Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,391
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,397
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 883
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 598
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 527
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 508
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 480
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 463
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 443
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 344
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 342