116,924 tests in 2025
Mazda 2 reliability and MOT pass rate
75% passed first time. The 25% fail rate is 2.4 points worse than the all-car average, on a median example 11 years old with 60,926 miles.
Pass rate
75%
22.6% of all cars failed; 25% of these did.
Fixed on the day
5.7%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
60,926 mi
11 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 10,739 | 5.8% |
| 6-9 years | 31,445 | 13.3% |
| 10-13 years | 32,758 | 27.5% |
| 14+ years | 41,759 | 37% |
What the 2 fails on
Share of failed tests with at least one fail item in each DVSA inspection section. A test can fail in several sections at once.
- Suspension993 dangerous51.6%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment101 dangerous30.7%
- Tyres6,953 dangerous23.4%
- Brakes2,309 dangerous18%
- Visibility10 dangerous15.7%
- Steering140 dangerous14%
- Noise, emissions and leaks10 dangerous7.7%
- Body, chassis, structure343 dangerous6.8%
Is the 2 getting worse?
The fail rate rose 2.1 points to 26% from 2022 to 2025, against a rising rate across all cars.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 125,908 | 10 | 23.9% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 126,260 | — | 24.2% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 107,461 | — | 25.6% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 111,220 | — | 26% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical 2 at its test that year, and it is the number to watch: across the whole fleet each extra year of age adds roughly 1.9 points to the fail rate, so a model whose age and fail rate rise together is simply getting older.
The exact defects that fail it
Every failure item DVSA recorded against a 2 in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6,255 tests
- 2Coil spring: fractured or broken4,603 tests
- 3Position lamp: not working3,224 tests
- 4Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3,214 tests
- 5Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2,594 tests
- 6Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2,354 tests
- 7Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2,168 tests
- 8Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2,090 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical 2 collects 2.83 of them per test, and these are the ones that come up most. Treat it as the running-repairs list for the next year or two.
- 1Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17,604 tests
- 2Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure13,470 tests
- 3Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11,896 tests
- 4Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened7,680 tests
- 5Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7,423 tests
- 6Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6,687 tests
- 7Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened5,278 tests
- 8Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine4,557 tests
Questions
What is the Mazda 2 MOT pass rate?
75% of the 116,924 Mazda 2 first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 25% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 5.7% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a Mazda 2 usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn", recorded on 6,255 failed tests, followed by "Coil spring: fractured or broken" and "Position lamp: not working". By section, suspension appears in 51.6% of failures, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment appears in 30.7% of failures, tyres appears in 23.4% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was 5.8%; at 14+ years it was 37%. The median Mazda 2 tested in 2025 was 11 years old with 60,926 miles.
Is the Mazda 2 getting less reliable?
The fail rate rose 2.1 points to 26% from 2022 to 2025, against a rising rate across all cars.
First-attempt class 4 tests, 2025, from DVSA’s anonymised MOT data (OGL v3, retrieved 2026-09-12). DVSA records newer cars trim by trim; this page adds every 2 trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
DVSA has published 3 safety recalls naming the Mazda 2: Mazda 2 recalls.
Other Mazda models
Checking a particular 2?
The odds above are the model. The car in front of you has its own record: every test, every advisory, the mileage at each one.
Due a test? Find an approved MOT station near you.