What year Mazda 323 SE is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1990 Mazda 323 SE has the highest pass rate at 64.5%, out of 2,499 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Mazda 323 SE MOT failures?

The most common Mazda 323 SE MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Mazda 323 SE — Reliability by Year

4,347 vehicles · MOT data 1989–1991 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Mazda 323 SE 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

1990

64.5% pass rate · 2,499 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1989

56.1% pass rate · 692 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1991	63.0%	109,483 mi	1,156
1990	64.5%	103,455 mi	2,499
1989	56.1%	112,667 mi	692

Which year Mazda 323 SE is most reliable?

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

Tests range from an average of 103,455 miles (newest year) to 112,667 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 323 SE.

See the buying guide →

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