Mazda 6 - 2003
459.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 6, model year 2003.
Sample size: 186 cars, 394 tests and 1,812 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: 186 cars
The 2003 Mazda 6 exhibits a higher overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 460 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 22% more than the average of 378 defects. Notably, the model struggles with issues related to wheels, suspensions, and axles, where its defect rate is significantly higher than average. Conversely, it performs better in areas such as steering and visibility, where its defect rates are considerably lower than typical. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with higher mileage, particularly beyond 93,000 miles, suggesting a correlation between age and reliability.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 186 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 1.9% better
166.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 43.7% better
14.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 23.5% better
22.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- 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
Lights & Electrics
▼ 16.5% worse
119.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 100 tests
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- 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
- Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 52.2% worse
459.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▼ 57.2% worse
102.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- 6.1.1 (d) (i)
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 41.9% worse
19.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 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
- Audible warning:
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- 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
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 71.2% better
15.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 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
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
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: 234
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 124
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 117
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 93
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 91
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 80
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 77
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 62
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 45
Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 40
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 91
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 22
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
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
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 15