2009 · 15 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2009 Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate and common faults

4,140 MOT tests in 2024. 71.7% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

123Well above average
Passed first time71.7%
Failed or needed repairs28.3%
Typical mileage at test63,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,140 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.7%
  2. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.6%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
    103 marked dangerous
  4. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%
  5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.5%
  6. Position lamp: not working1.4%
  7. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.3%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.2%
  9. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.2%
  10. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension14.6%
  2. Lights & electrics10.0%
  3. Brakes9.3%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.0%
  5. Emissions & leaks4.4%
  6. Tyres3.4%
  7. Body & chassis2.4%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.6%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.5%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm7.6%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened7.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.0%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2008 MX-5All MX-5 years2010 MX-5 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Mazda MX-5?

In 2024, 71.7% of 2009 Mazda MX-5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,140 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Mazda MX-5?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; service brake performance: excessively binding; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2009 Mazda MX-5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 123, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).