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Common problems by part

Mazda 6 steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 25,307 MOT tests · Updated

At 8 years, 0.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Mazda 6 failed on steering, against 1.2 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 25,307 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.4–0.5×) (all test years), 128 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 17 ages from 4 to 20 years, 252,071 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Steering track rod end: ball joint play, 0.3 per 100 MOT tests

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 8 years, against 1.2 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 8 (all test years). The Mazda 6 fails less often here.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Mazda 6 steering fails by age

Mazda 6 steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mazda 6. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0244 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 9,510 MOT tests45 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 13,573 MOT tests6 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 19,582 MOT tests67 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 22,029 MOT tests8 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 25,307 MOT tests89 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 24,748 MOT tests10 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 20,338 MOT tests1011 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 18,000 MOT tests12 years: 1.9 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 17,837 MOT tests1213 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 17,931 MOT tests14 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 18,407 MOT tests1415 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 16,138 MOT tests16 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 11,671 MOT tests1617 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 8,082 MOT tests18 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 4,871 MOT tests1819 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 2,684 MOT tests20 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 1,363 MOT tests20
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mazda 6 All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
49,5100.00.2
513,5730.00.3
619,5820.10.5
722,0290.20.8
825,3070.51.2
924,7480.91.8
1020,3381.52.1
1118,0002.12.5
1217,8371.92.8
1317,9311.22.9
1418,4071.23.2
1516,1381.03.3
1611,6710.83.4
178,0821.13.6
184,8711.33.9
19*2,6841.24.1
20*1,3631.04.2

All first-use years of the Mazda 6 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 steering at 8 years

Fails

  • Steering track rod end: ball joint play: 0.3 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.7. Replace track rod end: estimated £54–£128 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £15–£50) Track rod end ball joint has excessive play MOT fail

Replace track rod end cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 2.2 diesel: 0.6 per 100 at 8 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.4–0.6×) (all test years; 18,326 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 petrol: 0.2 per 100 at 8 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 6,962 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Check one Mazda 6, not the average

The figures here describe Mazda 6 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Mazda 6 problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mazda 6 have more steering problems than other cars?

0.4 to 0.5 times the steering fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 8 years (all test years), from 25,307 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 7 of the 17 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Mazda 6 steering problems?

0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years failed on steering, against 1.2 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 25,307 MOT tests).

What is the most common Mazda 6 steering fail?

0.3 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years: Steering track rod end: ball joint play (84 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 259,157 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. 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