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Mazda MX-5 - 1997

287.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 1997. Sample size: 2,016 cars, 3,895 tests and 11,214 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,016 cars

The 1997 Mazda MX-5 has a lower overall defect rate of 288 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 14% better than the average for cars of the same year, which stands at 335 defects per 100 vehicles. Notably, the MX-5 excels in categories such as Steering, Visibility, Lights & Electrics, and Body/Structure, showing significant improvements compared to the average. However, as mileage increases, defect rates tend to rise, particularly in the highest mileage segment (over 124,000 miles), where the model still performs reasonably well. Overall, this vehicle demonstrates strong reliability in several key areas compared to its peers from the same year.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,016 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
▲ 6.7% better
131.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 55.1% better
12.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • 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
Visibility
▲ 27.4% better
18.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 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
▲ 31.5% better
44.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • 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
▲ 7.4% better
232.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • 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
▲ 41.2% better
49.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • 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
Equipment
▲ 0.9% better
21.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 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:
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (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
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▼ 7.2% worse
65.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • 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
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 535 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: 1,491
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 707
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 636
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 486
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 459
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 438
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 418
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 388
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 361
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 250

Serious faults (Top 10)

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: 190
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 155
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 153
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 132
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 125
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 112
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 99
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 89
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: 80