MOT fail rates by first-use year
2009 Mazda MX-5 MOT fail rate and common faults
How Mazda MX-5 cars first used in 2009 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 16,864 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 16 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 16 years old, Mazda MX-5 cars first used in 2009 failed 28.5% of MOTs (4,086 tests), 14.0 points below the 42.6% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 13 to 16 years old, the fail rate moved from 24.4% to 28.5%.
- Mazda MX-5 cars first used a year earlier, in 2008, failed 29.7% at the same age of 16 years (5,385 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mazda MX-5 at 16 years, is coil spring broken, at 5.7 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.9).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 13 years | 24.4% | 4,305 | 38.3% | −13.8 pts |
| 2023 | 14 years | 26.5% | 4,262 | 40.3% | −13.8 pts |
| 2024 | 15 years | 28.1% | 4,211 | 41.6% | −13.4 pts |
| 2025 | 16 years | 28.5% | 4,086 | 42.6% | −14.0 pts |
Most common faults at 16 years
These figures cover all Mazda MX-5 MOTs at 16 years: cars first used 2006 to 2009, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=24,545). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring broken | 5.7 | 3.9 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 3.6 | 1.5 |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | 2.8 | 1.4 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 2.4 | 5.9 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 1.4 | 2.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=24,545). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 10.2 | 11.2 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 8.6 | 9.5 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 8.4 | 5.3 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 8.4 | 18.2 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 7.0 | 6.8 |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively | 5.5 | 2.4 |
| Anti-roll bar link ball joint: slight play | 4.9 | 2.7 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 3.8 | 8.7 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 2.8 | 7.4 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 2.5 | 5.9 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=24,545). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 16 years
These figures cover all Mazda MX-5 MOTs at 16 years: cars first used 2006 to 2009, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=24,545). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 100.0% | 30.9% | 24,544 | 42.6% | 69,519 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 16 years
These figures cover all Mazda MX-5 MOTs at 16 years: cars first used 2006 to 2009, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=24,545). At 16 years, Mazda MX-5 cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (44.6%, n=1,218) than those at under 30,000 miles (16.9%, n=1,440). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 miles | 16.9% | 1,440 | 20.6% |
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 23.2% | 7,494 | 32.1% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 33.2% | 9,337 | 41.4% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 39.7% | 4,528 | 45.9% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 44.6% | 1,218 | 46.8% |
Car tax rules for a 2009 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Mazda MX-5
Other Mazda models first used in 2009
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda 2 (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 46.3% | 11,031 | 42.6% |
| Mazda 3 (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 43.3% | 6,667 | 42.6% |
| Mazda 6 (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 40.8% | 3,038 | 42.6% |
| Mazda 5 (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 53.2% | 1,031 | 42.6% |
More on the Mazda MX-5
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2009 Mazda MX-5 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.