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Common problems by part

Mazda MX-5 body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 24,545 MOT tests · Updated

At 16 years, 3.3 in 100 MOT tests of the Mazda MX-5 failed on body and structure, against 7.6 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 24,545 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), 806 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 348,258 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases, 1.0 per 100 MOT tests

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

3.3 fails per 100 MOT tests at 16 years, against 7.6 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 16 (all test years). The Mazda MX-5 fails less often here.

Why it matters

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

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Mazda MX-5 body and structure fails by age

Mazda MX-5 body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mazda MX-5. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.05103 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 8,032 MOT tests34 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 10,933 MOT tests5 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 13,996 MOT tests56 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 17,006 MOT tests7 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 15,956 MOT tests78 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 14,570 MOT tests9 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 13,087 MOT tests910 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 12,116 MOT tests11 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 12,545 MOT tests1112 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 14,455 MOT tests13 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 15,540 MOT tests1314 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 17,924 MOT tests15 years: 2.0 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 22,503 MOT tests1516 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 24,545 MOT tests17 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 23,640 MOT tests1718 years: 5.3 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 21,375 MOT tests19 years: 7.0 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 18,187 MOT tests1920 years: 7.0 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 14,809 MOT tests21 years: 6.4 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 12,900 MOT tests2122 years: 6.6 per 100 (all cars 9.4), 12,285 MOT tests23 years: 5.9 per 100 (all cars 9.5), 11,279 MOT tests2324 years: 5.3 per 100 (all cars 9.4), 10,570 MOT tests25 years: 5.7 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 10,005 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mazda MX-5 All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
38,0320.10.3
410,9330.10.3
513,9960.10.5
617,0060.10.8
715,9560.21.3
814,5700.21.8
913,0870.22.3
1012,1160.32.9
1112,5450.43.5
1214,4550.54.3
1315,5400.95.0
1417,9241.35.9
1522,5032.06.7
1624,5453.37.6
1723,6404.58.3
1821,3755.38.7
19*18,1877.09.0
20*14,8097.09.2
21*12,9006.49.3
22*12,2856.69.4
23*11,2795.99.5
24*10,5705.39.4
25*10,0055.79.3

All first-use years of the Mazda MX-5 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 body and structure at 16 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Replace leaking exhaust section cost

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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

  • 2.0 petrol: 3.4 per 100 at 16 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.4–0.5×) (all test years; 13,440 MOT tests)
  • 1.8 petrol: 3.1 per 100 at 16 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.4–0.5×) (all test years; 10,636 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases.

Check one Mazda MX-5, not the average

The figures here describe Mazda MX-5 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Mazda MX-5 problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mazda MX-5 have more body and structure problems than other cars?

0.4 to 0.5 times the body and structure fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 16 years (all test years), from 24,545 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 6 of the 23 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Mazda MX-5 body and structure problems?

3.3 in 100 MOT tests at 16 years failed on body and structure, against 7.6 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 24,545 MOT tests).

What is the most common Mazda MX-5 body and structure fail?

1.0 in 100 MOT tests at 16 years: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (254 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, 348,258 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