Mazda MX-5 - 2021
51.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda MX-5, model year 2021.
Sample size: 1,645 cars, 3,796 tests and 1,942 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: 1,645 cars
The 2021 Mazda MX-5 has an overall defect rate of 51 defects per 100 vehicles, significantly lower than the average of 79 defects per 100 vehicles from the same year, marking a reduction of about 35%. This model shows particularly impressive results in categories such as steering and body structure, where it has zero defects compared to the averages of 0.73% and 1.97%, respectively. While tyre wear is a common concern across many vehicles, the MX-5 stands out with minimal issues in several key areas, demonstrating strong reliability, especially in visibility and lights and electrics. The data indicates that the MX-5 performs consistently well across various mileage ranges, maintaining low defect rates compared to the yearly averages.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 1,645 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 19.8% better
32.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
- 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: 0.7 / 100 tests
Visibility
▲ 51.0% better
7.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 66.1% better
3.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
- A registration plate lamp: not securely attached
- 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
- 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
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 33.3% better
58.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
- A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
- 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
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 90.5% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 86.7% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 74.1% better
0.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- 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
- An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
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: 494
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 344
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 344
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 176
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 84
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 63
Wiper blade: defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 49
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
PRS
Occurrences: 45
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
Serious faults (Top 10)
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 3