Mazda 3 common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Mazda 3 at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 110,042 UK MOT tests of the Mazda 3 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material): recorded on 3.9% of tests of 2017–2019 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 20× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: coil spring (fractured or broken) (9.6×); linkage ball joints (ball joint has slight play) (9×); suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened) (5.8×). The most common reasons a Mazda 3 fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); position lamp (not working); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Mazda 3
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Mazda 3 than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.9% | 0.2% | 20× | 9,059 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 7.7% | 0.8% | 9.6× | 5,186 |
| Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2011–2013 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 9.9% | 1.1% | 9× | 4,207 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2011–2013 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 6.4% | 1.1% | 5.8× | 4,207 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2011–2013 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 10% | 2.1% | 4.8× | 3,796 |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | MOT fail | 2011–2013 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 13% | 2.7% | 4.9× | 2,239 |
| Ball joint: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2011–2013 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 7% | 1.8% | 3.9× | 3,796 |
| Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output | Advisory | 2007–2009 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 9.8% | 2.3% | 4.3× | 754 |
Mazda 3 by mileage (2015–2017 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 1,370 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (15%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (4.7%, 12×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 7,562 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (14%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (8.1%, 12×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 10,448 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (14%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (10%, 11×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 6,940 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (9.5%, 8.6×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 3,030 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (9.5%, 6.8×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 1,020 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (8%, 4.7×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 309 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (7.8%, 3.9×) |
Mazda 3 by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 986 | Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (4.3×) |
| 2005 | 3,288 | Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.6×) |
| 2006 | 4,595 | Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (4×) |
| 2007 | 5,984 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (4.6×) |
| 2008 | 6,977 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (4.8×) |
| 2009 | 8,218 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.1×) |
| 2010 | 8,739 | Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (5.2×) |
| 2011 | 5,625 | Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (6.1×) |
| 2012 | 5,112 | Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (9×) |
| 2013 | 5,251 | Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (6.2×) |
| 2014 | 8,496 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (4.5×) |
| 2015 | 11,894 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (8.3×) |
| 2016 | 10,685 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (12×) |
| 2017 | 8,227 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (18×) |
| 2018 | 7,071 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (21×) |
| 2019 | 4,435 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (2.2×) |
| 2020 | 4,332 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (2.5×) |
| 2021 | 110 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (1.7×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Mazda 3?
In 110,042 UK MOT tests of the Mazda 3 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material): recorded on 3.9% of tests of 2017–2019 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 20× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: coil spring (fractured or broken) (9.6×); linkage ball joints (ball joint has slight play) (9×); suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened) (5.8×). The most common reasons a Mazda 3 fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); position lamp (not working); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn).
Why do Mazda 3s fail the MOT?
Across 110,042 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Mazda 3 were coil spring (fractured or broken) (7.4% of tests); position lamp (not working) (11% of tests); ball joint (ball joint excessively worn) (10% of tests).
At what mileage do Mazda 3 problems start?
The clearest Mazda 3-specific issue, rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material), peaks against other cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) on 2017–2019 cars (3.9% of tests vs 0.2% for all cars that age).
Where does this Mazda 3 data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 110,042 tests of the Mazda 3. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.