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Mazda MX-5 - 1998

305.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1998 is 342.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 1998. Sample size: 2,803 cars, 5,000 tests and 15,264 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,803 cars

The 1998 Mazda MX-5 has an overall defect rate of 305 per 100 vehicles, which is 10% lower than the average for cars of the same year, recorded at 339 per 100. Notably, this model performs significantly better in steering (11% compared to the average of 25%), visibility (19% compared to 26%), and body/structure (55% compared to 76%). Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with higher mileage, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category, where the MX-5 shows a rate of 529 defects per 100 vehicles. Overall, the MX-5 demonstrates a solid performance with fewer defects in key areas compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,803 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
▲ 8.8% better
136.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 149.4 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 55.5% better
11.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 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.
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
Visibility
▲ 29.3% better
18.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.3 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • 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
Lights & Electrics
▲ 7.2% better
61.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.7 / 100 tests
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • 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
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 4.4% better
246.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 257.8 / 100 tests
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 32.3% better
54.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.5 / 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
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 2.0% better
20.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt:
  • 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
Other
▼ 4.4% worse
61.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.0 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 543 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: 2,014
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 793
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 726
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 644
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 643
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 586
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 561
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 486
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 468
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 411

Serious faults (Top 10)

Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 195
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 185
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 184
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 182
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: 175
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 139
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 134
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 130
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 104
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: 102