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Common problems by part

Mazda 3 road wheels problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 39,426 MOT tests · Updated

At 8 years, 0.2 in 100 MOT tests of the Mazda 3 failed on road wheels, against 0.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 39,426 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 82 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 19 years and at every older age seen
  • MOT tests at 8 years: 39,426 for the Mazda 3

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.2 fails per 100 MOT tests at 8 years, against 0.3 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 8 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A road wheels fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

Look for cracked or badly kerbed rims and check that every wheel nut is present; a vibration through the wheel at speed points to a bent rim or balance.

Mazda 3 road wheels fails by age

Mazda 3 road wheels fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mazda 3. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.00.513 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 15,565 MOT tests34 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 19,954 MOT tests5 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 24,170 MOT tests56 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 30,523 MOT tests7 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 38,010 MOT tests78 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 39,426 MOT tests9 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.4), 36,222 MOT tests910 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.4), 30,647 MOT tests11 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.4), 24,338 MOT tests1112 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 24,838 MOT tests13 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 27,774 MOT tests1314 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.6), 29,420 MOT tests15 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.6), 29,030 MOT tests1516 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.6), 24,540 MOT tests17 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 0.6), 19,311 MOT tests1718 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 12,644 MOT tests19 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 6,575 MOT tests1920 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 0.4), 2,751 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mazda 3 All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
315,5650.10.1
419,9540.10.2
524,1700.10.2
630,5230.20.2
738,0100.20.3
839,4260.20.3
936,2220.20.4
1030,6470.30.4
1124,3380.30.4
1224,8380.50.5
1327,7740.60.5
1429,4200.50.6
1529,0300.60.6
1624,5400.60.6
1719,3110.70.6
1812,6440.80.5
19*6,5751.00.5
20*2,7510.80.4

All first-use years of the Mazda 3 pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the road wheels at 8 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
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See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 2.0 petrol: 0.2 per 100 at 8 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 31,039 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 petrol: 0.6 per 100 at 15 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 21,885 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Look for cracked or badly kerbed rims and check that every wheel nut is present; a vibration through the wheel at speed points to a bent rim or balance.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Road wheel condition: slightly distorted.

Check one Mazda 3, not the average

The figures here describe Mazda 3 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Mazda 3 problems

Road wheels on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mazda 3 have more road wheels problems than other cars?

0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years, against 0.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 39,426 MOT tests).

How common are Mazda 3 road wheels problems?

0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years failed on road wheels, against 0.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 39,426 MOT tests).

At what age do Mazda 3 road wheels fails start?

19 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 9,326 MOT tests.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 435,738 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare