Mazda 6 (2008)

11,218 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.9% first-time pass rate

2008 Mazda 6

CarHunch analysed 11,218 real MOT records for the 2008 Mazda 6. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 7.1% below UK average
72.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
98,465
typical mileage
78,892–119,774 middle half
41.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.13
avg MOT failures per car
over 14.4 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73.9%
Petrol
5,389 vehicles
72%
Diesel
5,810 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2008 Mazda 6

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 41.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Mazda 6

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (52%) 5,810 72% 3.81
Petrol (48%) 5,389 73.9% 4.47
LPG (0%) 15 72.2% 4.27
Other (0%) 2 96.4% 0.5
Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) 1 80% 2
Electric (0%) 1 75% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Mazda 6 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

78,892
low mileage
98,465
typical
119,774
high mileage

Half of all 2008 Mazda 6 vehicles fall between 78,892 and 119,774 miles.

2008 Mazda 6 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 2,384 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% of peak).

10,201 2,384 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

14.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.13
Avg failures per vehicle
20.9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2008 Mazda 6

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 52.7%
    Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  • 50.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 48.7%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 47.6%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 42.5%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 38.4%
    Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened
  • 36.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 31%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Mazda 6?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Mazda 6:

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020