Mazda 3 - 2012
279.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2012.
Sample size: 5,037 cars, 11,388 tests and 31,773 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: 5,037 cars
The 2012 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 279 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 13% higher than the average car of the same year, which stands at 246 defects per 100. The model particularly excels in areas such as steering, body/structure, equipment, and other categories, showing significantly lower defect rates than average. However, it struggles with wheels, suspensions, and axles, where it has a notably higher defect rate compared to the average. Additionally, as mileage increases, defects tend to rise sharply, especially in the highest mileage category, indicating a potential concern for older vehicles.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 5,037 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 14.6% better
88.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 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
▲ 37.9% better
8.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
- 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.
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▼ 3.1% worse
19.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 5.8% better
58.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- 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
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 40.8% worse
344.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
- 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
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 27.1% better
19.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▲ 71.0% better
1.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 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
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt:
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▲ 24.6% better
17.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 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
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
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: 5,442
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,042
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,690
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,533
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,506
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,450
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,266
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 643
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 629
Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 485
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,266
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 375
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 374
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 373
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 260
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 252
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 204
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 148
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 133
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 129