Mazda 6 - 2012
320.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda 6, model year 2012.
Sample size: 2,887 cars, 6,753 tests and 21,639 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: 2,887 cars
The 2012 Mazda 6 has an overall defect rate of 320 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 30% higher than the average rate of 246 defects for cars of the same year. Notably, this model performs significantly better than average in categories such as steering, equipment, and other defects. However, it faces more issues than average in brakes, lights and electrics, and wheels, suspensions, and axles. Mileage trends reveal that defect rates tend to increase with higher mileage, particularly beyond 93,000 miles, where the Mazda 6 shows a marked rise. Overall, while it excels in certain areas, its increased brake and electrical issues could be a concern for potential buyers.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 2,887 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 77.5% worse
184.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 40.2% better
7.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 4.7% better
18.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 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: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 32.1% worse
81.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 28.6% worse
314.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 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 suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
Body/Structure
▲ 18.7% better
21.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- A driver’s seat: insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 51.6% better
3.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- 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
Other
▲ 56.8% better
10.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 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
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
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: 3,293
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,171
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,375
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,203
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 966
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 864
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 752
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 675
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 663
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 516
Serious faults (Top 10)
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 315
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 303
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 296
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 207
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 195
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 184
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 167
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 167
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 161
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 158