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Mazda MX-5 - 2008

226.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2008 is 340.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 2008. Sample size: 5,739 cars, 13,015 tests and 29,418 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 5,739 cars

The 2008 Mazda MX-5 has a lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 226 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 33% better than the average of 337 defects per 100. Notably, it performs exceptionally well in categories such as brakes, steering, and body structure, with significantly fewer defects than the average, particularly in steering where it shows a remarkable 94% improvement. While the defect rates tend to increase with mileage across both the MX-5 and the average vehicle, the MX-5 maintains a relatively consistent performance, especially in the lower mileage brackets. Overall, this model stands out positively for its reliability in several key areas.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 5,739 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
▲ 22.0% better
103.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 133.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 93.9% better
1.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.0 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
Visibility
▲ 32.0% better
17.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 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
▲ 52.8% better
43.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 92.2 / 100 tests
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • 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
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 19.7% better
249.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 310.3 / 100 tests
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
Body/Structure
▲ 60.0% better
20.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.3 / 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
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 65.3% better
3.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 10.1 / 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
  • A seat belt:
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▲ 68.0% better
13.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 41.2 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 481 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: 3,278
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,326
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,293
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,976
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,909
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,221
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,162
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,130
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 694
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 672

Serious faults (Top 10)

A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 694
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 467
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 431
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 422
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 362
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 234
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 226
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 197
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 189
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 182