2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Mazda CX-5 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,411 MOT tests in 2024. 67.2% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time67.2%
Failed or needed repairs32.8%
Typical mileage at test97,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,411 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play8.8%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.0%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.3%
    59 marked dangerous
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.8%
    69 marked dangerous
  5. Position lamp: not working2.3%
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.5%
  8. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.4%
  9. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.3%
  10. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn1.2%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension16.9%
  2. Steering12.3%
  3. Brakes8.2%
  4. Lights & electrics8.1%
  5. Tyres6.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.5%
  7. Emissions & leaks3.0%
  8. Body & chassis0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.4%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.9%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.6%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.3%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All CX-5 years2013 CX-5 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Mazda CX-5?

In 2024, 67.2% of 2012 Mazda CX-5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,411 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Mazda CX-5?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Mazda CX-5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).