1994 · 30 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1994 Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate and common faults

366 MOT tests in 2024. 68.6% passed first time, compared with 67.5% for all cars the same age.

102About average
Passed first time68.6%
Failed or needed repairs31.4%
Typical mileage at test104,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 366 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced4.9%
  2. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits4.1%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.1%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.6%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.3%
  6. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side2.2%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.2%
  8. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength1.9%
  9. Position lamp: not working1.9%
  10. Headlamp aim: too low1.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics21.3%
  2. Brakes18.0%
  3. Suspension11.7%
  4. Emissions & leaks11.5%
  5. Body & chassis7.4%
  6. Seat belts & airbags5.7%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.9%
  8. Tyres2.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine20.5%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded13.4%
  3. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened7.1%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases6.8%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened6.3%

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.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1994 Mazda MX-5?

In 2024, 68.6% of 1994 Mazda MX-5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 366 tests. The average for all 30-year-old cars was 67.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1994 Mazda MX-5?

The most common failure reasons were seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced; catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1994 Mazda MX-5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).