Mazda Cx-5 common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Mazda Cx-5 at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 61,637 UK MOT tests of the Mazda Cx-5 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 3.5% of tests of 2015–2017 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 5× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: track rod end (ball joint has excessive play) (6.2×); brake pads (wearing thin) (4.3×); suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened) (5×). The most common reasons a Mazda Cx-5 fails its MOT are brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); track rod end (ball joint has excessive play).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Mazda Cx-5
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Mazda Cx-5 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 | 2015–2017 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.5% | 0.7% | 5× | 3,391 |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | MOT fail | 2012–2014 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 13% | 2.1% | 6.2× | 369 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 6.4% | 1.5% | 4.3× | 4,554 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2011–2013 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 6% | 1.2% | 5× | 601 |
| Track rod end: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2013–2015 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 5.8% | 1.4% | 4.1× | 1,098 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | MOT fail | 2020–2022 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.2% | 1.3% | 2.5× | 3,008 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2018–2020 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 6.9% | 3.1% | 2.2× | 5,188 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2013–2015 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 12% | 5.4% | 2.2× | 4,999 |
Mazda Cx-5 by mileage (2018–2020 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) | 5,188 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (6.9%) | Brake pads: wearing thin (6.7%, 4.2×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 13,466 | Brake pads: wearing thin (11%) | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (9%, 1.5×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 5,670 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (4.1%, 1.7×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 1,329 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16%) | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (4%, 1.7×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 307 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15%) | — |
Mazda Cx-5 by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,515 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (5×) |
| 2013 | 5,364 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (6.2×) |
| 2014 | 6,993 | Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (5.3×) |
| 2015 | 7,173 | Track rod end: ball joint has slight play at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (4.3×) |
| 2016 | 7,100 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (5×) |
| 2017 | 7,193 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (4.3×) |
| 2018 | 10,115 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (4.2×) |
| 2019 | 10,189 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (4.2×) |
| 2020 | 5,804 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (4.3×) |
| 2021 | 184 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (4.4×) |
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 Cx-5?
In 61,637 UK MOT tests of the Mazda Cx-5 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 3.5% of tests of 2015–2017 cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km), 5× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: track rod end (ball joint has excessive play) (6.2×); brake pads (wearing thin) (4.3×); suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened) (5×). The most common reasons a Mazda Cx-5 fails its MOT are brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); track rod end (ball joint has excessive play).
Why do Mazda Cx-5s fail the MOT?
Across 61,637 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Mazda Cx-5 were brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) (2.8% of tests); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) (3.3% of tests); track rod end (ball joint has excessive play) (5.9% of tests).
At what mileage do Mazda Cx-5 problems start?
The clearest Mazda Cx-5-specific issue, rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material), peaks against other cars at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) on 2015–2017 cars (3.5% of tests vs 0.7% for all cars that age).
Where does this Mazda Cx-5 data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 61,637 tests of the Mazda Cx-5. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.