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Mazda MX-5 seat belts and airbags problems

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

At 16 years, 1.3 in 100 MOT tests of the Mazda MX-5 failed on seat belts and airbags, against 2.1 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: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 308 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 25 years and at every older age seen
  • Most common fail: Seat belt prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced, 0.8 per 100 MOT tests

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.3 fails per 100 MOT tests at 16 years, against 2.1 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 16 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

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

What to check

Pull every seat belt out fully and let it retract, check each buckle latches and releases, and make sure the airbag light goes out after start-up.

Mazda MX-5 seat belts and airbags fails by age

Mazda MX-5 seat belts and airbags 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.0243 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 8,032 MOT tests34 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 10,933 MOT tests5 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 13,996 MOT tests56 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.4), 17,006 MOT tests7 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.4), 15,956 MOT tests78 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 14,570 MOT tests9 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.6), 13,087 MOT tests910 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.7), 12,116 MOT tests11 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.9), 12,545 MOT tests1112 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 1.0), 14,455 MOT tests13 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 15,540 MOT tests1314 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 1.5), 17,924 MOT tests15 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 1.7), 22,503 MOT tests1516 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 24,545 MOT tests17 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 23,640 MOT tests1718 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 2.7), 21,375 MOT tests19 years: 4.7 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 18,187 MOT tests1920 years: 5.0 per 100 (all cars 3.1), 14,809 MOT tests21 years: 4.4 per 100 (all cars 3.1), 12,900 MOT tests2122 years: 4.3 per 100 (all cars 3.1), 12,285 MOT tests23 years: 4.4 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 11,279 MOT tests2324 years: 4.1 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 10,570 MOT tests25 years: 4.3 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 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
38,0320.00.3
410,9330.00.3
513,9960.10.3
617,0060.10.4
715,9560.10.4
814,5700.00.5
913,0870.00.6
1012,1160.10.7
1112,5450.10.9
1214,4550.11.0
1315,5400.41.2
1417,9240.51.5
1522,5030.81.7
1624,5451.32.1
1723,6402.12.5
1821,3753.22.7
19*18,1874.72.9
20*14,8095.03.1
21*12,9004.43.1
22*12,2854.33.1
23*11,2794.43.2
24*10,5704.13.2
25*10,0054.33.3

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 seat belts and airbags at 16 years

Fails

Repair cost

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Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.

  • 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: 1.4 per 100 at 16 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 13,440 MOT tests)
  • 1.8 petrol: 1.1 per 100 at 16 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,636 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Pull every seat belt out fully and let it retract, check each buckle latches and releases, and make sure the airbag light goes out after start-up.

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

Seat belts and airbags on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mazda MX-5 have more seat belts and airbags problems than other cars?

1.3 in 100 MOT tests at 16 years, against 2.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 24,545 MOT tests).

How common are Mazda MX-5 seat belts and airbags problems?

1.3 in 100 MOT tests at 16 years failed on seat belts and airbags, against 2.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 24,545 MOT tests).

What is the most common Mazda MX-5 seat belts and airbags fail?

0.8 in 100 MOT tests at 16 years: Seat belt prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (186 MOT tests with it).

At what age do Mazda MX-5 seat belts and airbags fails start?

25 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 10,005 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, 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