Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Mazda 6 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% 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 2018 Mazda 6 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,251 vehicles, the 2018 Mazda 6 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Mazda 6?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Mazda 6 are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.3% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (36.8% 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 2018 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 (2018)

3,251 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.7% first-time pass rate

2018 Mazda 6

CarHunch analysed 3,251 real MOT records for the 2018 Mazda 6. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Mazda 6 is a reliably built car, with an 89.7% first-time pass rate that beats the UK average of 80%—though the 23.5% of vehicles that have recorded a dangerous defect at some point is notably high and worth taking seriously during inspection. Petrol versions edge out diesels (90.5% vs 88.7% pass rate), suggesting marginally better longevity in gasoline form.

At a median 35,639 miles for a six-year-old car, these are relatively low-mileage examples, which explains the decent pass performance. The average of 5.7 advisories per test indicates wear items are creeping in (suspension, braking, corrosion), so budget for incremental maintenance—and always get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically flags any history of structural or electrical faults before you commit.

The 2018 Mazda 6 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (89.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

89.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

23.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.7

Over 5.8 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

36k

Middle half: 26k–46k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.7% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.7 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 3,251 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,251 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 41.6%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Brake wear 36.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Other issues 13.4%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,251 Mazda 6 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

90.5%

Petrol

1,728 vehicles

88.7%

Diesel

1,523 vehicles

Before you buy a 2018 Mazda 6

Based on MOT data from 3,251 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.5% 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 (53%)	1,728	90.5%	0.63
Diesel (47%)	1,523	88.7%	0.77

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 2018 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.

35,639

typical

26,239

low mileage

46,345

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Mazda 6 vehicles fall between 26,239 and 46,345 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,239 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.

✓ 26,239–46,345 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Mazda 6s sit.

⚠ Over 62,565 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Mazda 6 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Mazda 6s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,120 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.7

Avg failures per vehicle

5.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Mazda 6 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?