Mazda MX-5 - 2018
105.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2018 is 123.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 2018.
Sample size: 4,717 cars, 10,532 tests and 11,063 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 4,717 cars
The 2018 Mazda MX-5 has an overall defect rate of 105 per 100 vehicles, which is 13% lower than the average for its year, indicating a relatively strong performance. Notably, the MX-5 excels in several categories, particularly in steering, where it shows significantly fewer defects compared to the average. It also performs better in lights and electrics, body structure, and equipment, all of which have a much lower defect rate than the typical vehicle. There are no standout areas where this model performs worse than average, suggesting a consistent reliability across different categories.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 4,717 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 5.5% worse
72.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.8 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 100.0% better
0.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.0 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 10.8% better
12.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.9 / 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: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 52.3% better
8.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.6 / 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
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A registration plate lamp: not securely attached
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 9.3% better
114.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 126.7 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A wheel: badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting
Body/Structure
▲ 90.2% better
0.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.1 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A driver’s seat: fore and aft adjustment mechanism not working as intended
- Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 90.9% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.2 / 100 tests
- Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▲ 85.7% better
1.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.0 / 100 tests
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
- An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* 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: 2,420
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,867
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,614
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,110
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 941
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 220
Wiper blade: defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 207
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 180
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
PRS
Occurrences: 170
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 164
Serious faults (Top 10)
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 180
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 128
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 110
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 91
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 80
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 60
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 49
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
FAIL
Occurrences: 22