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Mazda 3 - 2018

144.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2018 is 123.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2018. Sample size: 7,144 cars, 15,393 tests and 22,163 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 7,144 cars

The 2018 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 144 per 100 vehicles, which is 20% higher than the average for its year, recorded at 120 per 100. Notably, this model shows a significant increase in defects as mileage rises, particularly in the highest mileage bracket where the rate reaches 350 per 100. While the Mazda 3 excels in categories such as steering, lights and electrics, and body structure, where it has much lower defect rates than average, it struggles significantly with brakes, reporting a defect rate almost double that of typical vehicles of the same year.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 7,144 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
▼ 86.6% worse
128.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 90.0% better
0.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.0 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering linkage component with: relative movement between components which should be fixed
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment
Visibility
▼ 2.2% worse
14.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.9 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 68.2% better
5.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.6 / 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
  • 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
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 7.6% worse
136.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 126.7 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 84.3% better
0.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.1 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▲ 50.0% better
1.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.2 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 85.7% better
1.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.0 / 100 tests
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • 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
  • Emissions test unable to be completed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 350 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)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,647
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,413
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,125
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,684
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,010
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 690
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 519
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 505
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 481
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 413

Serious faults (Top 10)

Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 519
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 413
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 395
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 277
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 213
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 195
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 191
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 113
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 62
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 47