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Mazda MX-5 - 2012

151.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 2012. Sample size: 3,364 cars, 7,531 tests and 11,407 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 3,364 cars

The 2012 Mazda MX-5 has an overall defect rate of 151 per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the yearly average of 246 per 100, representing a 39% improvement. Notably, the model excels in categories such as brakes, steering, and body structure, with defect rates much lower than the average for these areas. In terms of mileage-related trends, defect rates increase with mileage, peaking at 400 per 100 for vehicles over 124,000 miles, which aligns with general expectations. Overall, the MX-5 demonstrates a strong performance, especially in critical safety categories, making it a reliable choice compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 3,364 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
▲ 25.3% better
77.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 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
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 94.7% better
0.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A steering linkage component: fractured or deformed
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 30.2% better
13.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
Lights & Electrics
▲ 65.1% better
21.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 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
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 27.0% better
178.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
Body/Structure
▲ 80.9% better
5.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 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
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 82.3% better
1.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
  • ESC 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
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 78.4% better
5.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • 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

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 402 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 tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,320
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,094
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 948
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 820
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 813
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 654
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 586
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 500
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 489
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 251

Serious faults (Top 10)

A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 251
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 183
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 141
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 108
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 94
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 92
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 92
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 89
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 66
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 63