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Mazda MX-5 - 2001

351.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2001 is 372.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 2001. Sample size: 2,147 cars, 4,061 tests and 14,262 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,147 cars

The 2001 Mazda MX-5 has a defect rate of 351 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly lower than the average of 369 per 100. This model shows a notable increase in defects as mileage increases, particularly in the higher mileage categories. It performs significantly better than average in areas such as steering, visibility, and lights & electrics, with defect rates considerably lower than typical for its age. However, it falls short in the equipment category, where its defect rate is higher than average. Overall, the Mazda MX-5 demonstrates a good balance of reliability, especially in critical safety areas.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,147 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
▲ 11.3% better
148.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 167.0 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 44.8% better
13.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.0 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
  • 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 fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 34.7% better
19.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.4 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 25.4% better
65.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 88.1 / 100 tests
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 3.4% worse
302.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 292.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▲ 3.6% better
69.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 71.9 / 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
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▼ 65.8% worse
26.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 16.1 / 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
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • 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
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 2.7% worse
57.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 55.6 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 554 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: 2,211
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 699
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 648
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 632
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 593
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 550
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 540
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 516
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 418
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 391

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 233
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: 177
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 164
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 141
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 126
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 104
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 103
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 100
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 96
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 96