Mazda 6 (2012)
2012 Mazda 6
CarHunch analysed 3,861 real MOT records for the 2012 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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The 2012 Mazda 6 matches the UK average pass rate at 79.6%, but petrol versions outperform diesels significantly—81.5% versus 78.5%—making the petrol a safer bet for reliability. More concerningly, half of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above acceptable and should give any buyer pause.
These cars are running at a sensible 81,000 miles on average for their age, yet they're accumulating nearly 19 advisories per test, suggesting persistent minor wear rather than catastrophic failure. Before committing to a purchase, have a pre-buy inspection done by a Mazda-familiar mechanic and specifically probe the history for what that dangerous defect flag represents—it's a red flag worth understanding.
The 2012 Mazda 6 has a decent first-time pass rate (79.6%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 3,861 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 3,861 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,861 Mazda 6 cars.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
Before you buy a 2012 Mazda 6
Based on MOT data from 3,861 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
51.1% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (64%) | 2,470 | 78.5% | 2.79 |
| Petrol (36%) | 1,387 | 81.5% | 2.61 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 158,495 Mazda 6 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2012 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.
Half of all 2012 Mazda 6 vehicles fall between 65,138 and 101,059 miles.
2012 Mazda 6 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 65% of 2012 Mazda 6s are still active.
2,454 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 65% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2012 Mazda 6 stacks up against a rival.