What year Mazda 121 is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1999 Mazda 121 has the highest pass rate at 67.0%, out of 557 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Mazda 121 MOT failures?

The most common Mazda 121 MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Mazda 121 — Reliability by Year

5,738 vehicles · MOT data 1988–1999 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Mazda 121 was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

1999

67.0% pass rate · 557 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1994

60.8% pass rate · 159 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1999	67.0%	57,986 mi	557
1998	64.1%	57,822 mi	771
1997	63.1%	56,067 mi	1,091
1996	62.4%	59,000 mi	1,527
1994	60.8%	80,117 mi	159
1993	62.0%	83,329 mi	162
1992	64.4%	75,100 mi	144
1991	61.6%	76,714 mi	284
1990	64.0%	84,321 mi	288
1989	63.8%	82,999 mi	379
1988	61.2%	84,927 mi	376

Which year Mazda 121 is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 56,067 miles (newest year) to 84,927 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Mazda 121.

See the buying guide →

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Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.