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Mazda 3 - 2016

175.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2016 is 154.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2016. Sample size: 10,778 cars, 23,429 tests and 41,081 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 10,778 cars

The 2016 Mazda 3 has a higher overall defect rate of 175 per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 151 per 100, representing a 16% increase. Notably, the model shows significantly better performance in categories such as steering, lights and electrics, body and structure, and equipment, all with defect rates considerably lower than the average. However, it has a concerning defect rate for brakes, which is nearly double the average. Additionally, mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with higher usage, particularly in the higher mileage brackets for this model.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 10,778 cars

More model years for Mazda 3

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Mazda

Mazda 2 Mazda 3 Mazda 5 Mazda 6 Mazda BONGO Mazda BT-50 Mazda CX-3 Mazda CX-30 Mazda CX-5 Mazda CX-7 Mazda EUNOS Mazda MX-30 Mazda MX-5 Mazda RX-8

Categories

Brakes
▼ 88.7% worse
147.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 78.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • 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
▲ 70.4% better
2.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.1 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 11.3% better
13.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.0 / 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
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 60.2% better
10.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.4 / 100 tests
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 6.7% worse
170.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 159.4 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 69.2% better
2.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.1 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Fire risk due to fuel tank shield or exhaust shield missing where fitted as original equipment
  • 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
Equipment
▲ 69.7% better
1.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.3 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • Audible warning:
Other
▲ 70.8% better
3.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.3 / 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
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 329 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,208
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,400
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,828
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,681
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,800
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,317
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,983
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,730
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 910
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 760

Serious faults (Top 10)

A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,730
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 760
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 686
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 446
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 428
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 331
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 281
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 277
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 156
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 123