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Mazda MX-5 - 2003

328.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 2003. Sample size: 4,373 cars, 8,781 tests and 28,853 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 4,373 cars

The 2003 Mazda MX-5 has an overall defect rate of 329 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 13% lower than the average for cars of the same year. The model shows significant improvement in categories such as steering and visibility, with defect rates considerably better than average. However, it faces challenges in equipment defects, which are higher than the average. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with mileage, but the MX-5 remains competitive compared to its peers across most mileage segments. Overall, this model demonstrates reliable performance in several key areas while highlighting the need for attention to specific equipment-related issues.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 4,373 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
▲ 15.9% better
142.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 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
▲ 52.4% better
12.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
  • 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: damaged or deteriorated
  • 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
▲ 40.3% better
17.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing 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
▲ 46.6% better
54.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 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
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • 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
▲ 2.5% better
294.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
  • 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
▼ 10.0% worse
71.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • 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
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▼ 64.0% worse
22.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 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:
  • 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: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▲ 20.9% better
41.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 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
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • 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
0 538 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: 4,132
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,434
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,415
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,396
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,322
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,057
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,012
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 918
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 871
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 762

Serious faults (Top 10)

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 731
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 446
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: 431
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 367
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 280
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 264
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 239
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 207
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 203
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 180