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Mazda MX-5 - 1990

264.7 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1990 is 257.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 1990. Sample size: 666 cars, 1,127 tests and 2,983 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 666 cars

The 1990 Mazda MX-5 shows a slightly higher overall defect rate of 265 per 100 compared to the average of 256 per 100, indicating that it has a 3% higher incidence of issues than its peers. Notably, the model excels in steering defects, reporting 18% compared to the average of 25%, which suggests better performance in this area. Mileage-related trends reveal that defect rates increase significantly with higher mileage, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category where the MX-5 records 496 defects per 100 vehicles. While tyre wear is a common concern, the MX-5 stands out positively in steering reliability relative to other vehicles of the same year.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 666 cars

More model years for Mazda MX-5

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 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
▼ 14.0% worse
116.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 101.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 28.5% better
18.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
Visibility
▲ 12.7% better
18.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.2 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • 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
Lights & Electrics
▲ 13.5% better
50.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 58.7 / 100 tests
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • 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
  • 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
  • A lamp adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 16.4% worse
206.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 177.0 / 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
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▲ 15.1% better
52.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 62.3 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 9.6% worse
17.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.7 / 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
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • 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:
  • A seat belt:
Other
▲ 3.9% better
49.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.7 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions test unable to be completed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 496 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 suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 290
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 229
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 207
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 144
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 129
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 102
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 93
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 88
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 76
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 70

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 64
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: 54
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 38
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 36
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 24