Mazda 3 - 2020
85.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2020 is 91.3 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2020.
Sample size: 4,505 cars, 9,112 tests and 7,771 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 4,505 cars
The 2020 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 85 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the average of 90 per 100 for its year, reflecting a 5% improvement. Notably, it excels in categories such as steering, lighting and electrics, body structure, and equipment, all showing significantly lower defect rates compared to the average. However, it has a higher incidence of brake-related defects, with a rate of 61 compared to the average of 49. Trends indicate that defect rates increase with mileage, particularly in the higher mileage ranges.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 4,505 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 19.7% worse
60.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.8 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 100.0% better
0.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 5.7% better
13.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.1 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: defective
- 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: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 52.7% better
5.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
- 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
- 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
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 8.9% better
88.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 97.5 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- 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 wheel: badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting
Body/Structure
▲ 79.2% better
0.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.4 / 100 tests
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
- Fire risk due to fuel tank shield or exhaust shield missing where fitted as original equipment
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- A transmission: joint, belt or chain excessively worn
- A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
Equipment
▲ 60.0% better
0.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- A seat belt:
Other
▲ 64.9% better
1.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.7 / 100 tests
- 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
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- 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 tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,664
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,340
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,167
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,009
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 324
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 310
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 214
Wiper blade: defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 187
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
PRS
Occurrences: 159
A wheel: badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 150
Serious faults (Top 10)
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 214
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 146
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 121
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 92
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 56
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 37
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 29
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 12