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Mazda 3 - 2021

77.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 3, model year 2021. Sample size: 4,284 cars, 9,163 tests and 7,096 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 4,284 cars

The 2021 Mazda 3 has an overall defect rate of 77 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly below the average of 79 per 100 for its year, showing a 1.5% improvement compared to the average. Notably, the model excels in categories such as Steering, Visibility, and Body/Structure, where it has significantly lower defect rates than the average car. However, it does exhibit a higher incidence of defects in the Brakes category, where the rate stands at 47%. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with mileage, particularly in the higher mileage brackets, but the Mazda 3 remains competitive throughout.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 4,284 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
▼ 16.5% worse
46.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 85.7% better
0.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Steering linkage retaining or locking device missing or ineffective
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 22.8% better
11.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 53.6% better
5.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 3.1% worse
90.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 85.7% better
0.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A door hinge, catch or pillar: excessively deteriorated
  • A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
Equipment
▲ 80.0% better
0.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
  • A statutory seat belt missing
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt:
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▲ 59.3% better
1.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 268 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: 1,716
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,391
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 985
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 729
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 283
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 254
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 215
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
PRS
Occurrences: 202
A wheel: badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 173
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 144

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 215
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 144
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 83
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 71
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 52
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 34
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 20
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 12