Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Mazda 6?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2003 Mazda 6?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2003 Mazda 6?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2003 Mazda 6 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2003 Mazda 6 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 13,758 vehicles, the 2003 Mazda 6 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Mazda 6?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Mazda 6 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (72.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (67.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2003 Mazda 6?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mazda 6 (2003)

13,758 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.5% first-time pass rate

2003 Mazda 6

CarHunch analysed 13,758 real MOT records for the 2003 Mazda 6. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2003 Mazda 6 falls short of the UK average with a 73.5% first-time pass rate, and one in four of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect during their MOT history—a genuine concern for used buyers. Both petrol and diesel variants underperform equally, with pass rates around 73–74%, so fuel type won't be your deciding factor here.

These Mazda 6s are averaging 86,298 miles, which is reasonable for a 21-year-old car, but they're racking up an average of 3.61 failures and 13.6 advisories per test, suggesting aging components and wear are catching up. If you're considering one, budget for above-average maintenance costs and get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, braking, and electrical systems before committing.

The 2003 Mazda 6 has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

73.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

25.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.61

Over 12.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

79k

Middle half: 64k–97k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 13.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 13,758 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 13,758 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 72.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 44.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 33.6%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 33.2%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 13,758 Mazda 6 cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Mazda 6

Based on MOT data from 13,758 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (70%)	9,595	73.2%	3.88
Diesel (30%)	4,148	74.2%	3

Colour Breakdown

Based on 158,495 Mazda 6 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 26%

41,132

Blue 25.2%

39,875

Grey 16.5%

26,179

Black 13.4%

21,188

Red 12.5%

19,888

White 5.4%

8,568

Green 0.8%

1,265

Yellow 0.2%

271

Maroon 0%

Gold 0%

Purple 0%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Mazda 6 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

79,286

typical

63,949

low mileage

97,023

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Mazda 6 vehicles fall between 63,949 and 97,023 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 63,949 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 63,949–97,023 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Mazda 6s sit.

⚠ Over 130,981 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Mazda 6 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2003 Mazda 6s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 526 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.61

Avg failures per vehicle

13.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mazda 6: All 6 years → Which year to buy? →

2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Mazda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Mazda 6 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on