Mazda RX-8 - 2003
293.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2003 is 380.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mazda RX-8, model year 2003.
Sample size: 104 cars, 187 tests and 549 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: 104 cars
The 2003 Mazda RX-8 exhibits a lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 294 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 22% better than the average of 378 defects. Notably, the RX-8 performs particularly well in categories such as Brakes and Steering, showing significantly fewer issues than the average car. However, it has a higher incidence of defects in the "Other" category, indicating some unique reliability concerns. Defect rates also increase with mileage, especially after 124,000 miles, where the RX-8 shows a marked rise in issues relative to the average. Overall, while the RX-8 maintains a relatively strong performance in key safety areas, it is essential to monitor specific defect trends as the vehicle ages.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 104 cars
More model years for Mazda RX-8
Other models from Mazda
Categories
Brakes
▲ 21.7% better
132.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 169.3 / 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
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 70.2% better
7.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 60.4% better
11.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.8 / 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
- Obligatory mirror or device: inoperative, excessively damaged or insecure
Lights & Electrics
▲ 42.8% better
58.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 102.8 / 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
- Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
- 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
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 21.4% better
237.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 302.1 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 16.4% better
54.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.2 / 100 tests
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- 6.1.1 (d) (i)
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 21.3% better
10.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.6 / 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
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 40.0% worse
73.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.7 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- 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
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 51
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 46
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 34
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 33
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 28
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 27
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 23
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 23
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 15
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 15
Serious faults (Top 10)
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is so weakened that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 4