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Mazda MX-5 - 1991

255.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1991 is 263.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 1991. Sample size: 733 cars, 1,245 tests and 3,177 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 733 cars

The 1991 Mazda MX-5 has an overall defect rate of 255 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly lower than the yearly average of 263 per 100 vehicles, indicating better reliability. Notably, this model excels in the "Lights & Electrics" category, with a defect rate 27% lower than the average. However, as mileage increases, defects become more frequent in the MX-5, particularly in the highest mileage segment of 124,000 miles and above, where it significantly outpaces the average. Overall, while tyre wear is a common issue across many vehicles, the MX-5 stands out for its strong performance in electrical reliability compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 733 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
▼ 16.3% worse
122.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 105.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 17.6% better
23.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.0 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • 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.
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 20.3% better
16.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.2 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 27.9% better
42.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.5 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 7.2% worse
189.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 176.5 / 100 tests
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • 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
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
Body/Structure
▲ 16.5% better
53.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 64.1 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • 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
▲ 1.1% better
18.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.4 / 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:
  • Audible warning not in accordance with requirements
Other
▲ 18.5% better
43.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.9 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • 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
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 474 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: 307
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 281
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 225
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 144
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 142
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 124
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 104
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 92
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 87
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 75

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 50
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: 49
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
Parking brake inoperative on one side, or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight line
FAIL
Occurrences: 27
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 24