1991 · 33 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1991 Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate and common faults

559 MOT tests in 2024. 71.2% passed first time, compared with 71.1% for all cars the same age.

100About average
Passed first time71.2%
Failed or needed repairs28.8%
Typical mileage at test107,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 559 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced3.4%
  2. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side3.0%
  3. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength2.9%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.9%
  5. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.9%
  6. Service brake imbalance: across an axle2.3%
  7. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.0%
  8. Integral vehicle structure condition: corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced2.0%
  9. Headlamp aim: too high1.6%
  10. Position lamp: not working1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics18.8%
  2. Brakes18.4%
  3. Suspension11.3%
  4. Body & chassis6.6%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.7%
  6. Seat belts & airbags3.9%
  7. Steering3.8%
  8. Emissions & leaks3.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine17.7%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.0%
  3. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened6.3%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.1%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened5.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 1990 MX-5All MX-5 years1992 MX-5 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1991 Mazda MX-5?

In 2024, 71.2% of 1991 Mazda MX-5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 559 tests. The average for all 33-year-old cars was 71.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1991 Mazda MX-5?

The most common failure reasons were seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced; parking brake performance: inoperative on one side; component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1991 Mazda MX-5 reliable at MOT time?

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