Mazda MX-5 - 2019
89.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2019 is 108.6 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 2019.
Sample size: 4,456 cars, 9,658 tests and 8,636 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: 4,456 cars
The 2019 Mazda MX-5 has an overall defect rate of 89 defects per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the average of 106 defects for cars of the same year, representing a 15.8% improvement. This model shows particularly strong performance in categories such as Steering, where it has only 0.06 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 2.59, and in Body/Structure with just 0.39 defects against an average of 3.33. Additionally, the MX-5 demonstrates lower defect rates in Lights & Electrics, Equipment, and Other categories. However, as mileage increases, defect rates do rise, indicating a trend of more issues appearing in higher mileage brackets. Overall, the Mazda MX-5 stands out for its reliability compared to its peers, especially in critical safety and structural areas.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 4,456 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 3.5% better
60.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 62.4 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 96.4% better
0.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.8 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 12.3% better
12.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
- 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
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
Lights & Electrics
▲ 59.1% better
6.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.9 / 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
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- 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 rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 12.8% better
98.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 112.9 / 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
▲ 88.6% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.5 / 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
Equipment
▲ 88.9% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.8 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 74.5% better
1.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.1 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- 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
* 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: 2,057
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,436
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,406
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 875
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 447
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 229
Wiper blade: defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 203
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
PRS
Occurrences: 145
A wheel: badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 125
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 115
Serious faults (Top 10)
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 101
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 92
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 90
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 89
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 43
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 41
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 29
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 21