Mazda

Mazda 3 — Reliability by Year

162,096 vehicles · MOT data 2003–2023 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Mazda 3 was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

Best pass rate year
2022
95.7% pass rate · 2,278 vehicles
Lowest pass rate year
2003
74.1% pass rate · 197 vehicles
Year Pass rate Avg mileage Vehicles
2023 First MOTs due 2026+ 20,203 mi 195
2022
95.7%
22,452 mi 2,278
2021
92.9%
24,577 mi 3,820
2020
92.1%
25,982 mi 4,051
2019
92.1%
28,528 mi 4,354
2018
89.4%
33,686 mi 6,996
2017
85.7%
39,715 mi 8,258
2016
84.0%
45,589 mi 10,805
2015
84.0%
51,423 mi 12,185
2014
83.7%
53,830 mi 8,873
2013
84.0%
55,253 mi 5,504
2012
82.2%
61,943 mi 5,577
2011
79.6%
64,526 mi 6,419
2010
79.2%
68,815 mi 10,781
2009
77.7%
68,635 mi 11,073
2008
75.6%
67,354 mi 11,348
2007
76.2%
69,368 mi 12,520
2006
76.1%
70,777 mi 13,141
2005
75.4%
71,990 mi 14,576
2004
75.3%
70,571 mi 9,145
2003
74.1%
70,043 mi 197

* UK vehicles require their first MOT at 3 years old. Recent model years shown in grey have little or no MOT test data yet — pass rate data will build up as those vehicles mature.

Which year Mazda 3 is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 22,452 miles (newest year) to 71,990 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 3.

See the buying guide →

All Mazda models

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