Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Mazda Cx 5?

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 Cx 5?

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 Cx 5?

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 Cx 5 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

20% 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 Cx 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 9,974 vehicles, the 2018 Mazda Cx 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90%, 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 Cx 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Mazda Cx 5 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.5% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (34.5% 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 Cx 5?

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 Cx 5 (2018)

9,974 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90% first-time pass rate

2018 Mazda Cx 5

CarHunch analysed 9,974 real MOT records for the 2018 Mazda Cx 5. 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 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 CX-5 passes its MOT first time in 90% of cases, a solid 10 percentage points above the UK average, suggesting good overall build quality and owner maintenance—though one in five vehicles has recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is worth taking seriously during your pre-purchase inspection. Petrol versions fare marginally better at 90.8% pass rate versus 89.2% for diesels, so if you're choosing between the two, the petrol has a slight edge.

These vehicles are running at sensible mileages for their age (median 42,436 miles), and the average of 0.67 failures per test indicates most don't rack up major structural problems. The 5.5 advisories per vehicle suggest minor wear items crop up regularly—typical for a six-year-old family SUV—so budget for routine attention to suspension, lights, and brake components rather than expecting trouble-free ownership.

The 2018 Mazda Cx 5 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (90%) — 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

90%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

20.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.67

Over 5.8 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

42k

Middle half: 33k–55k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90% 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 5.5 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 9,974 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 9,974 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 37.7%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

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

Brake wear 34.5%

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 17.9%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside 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 9,974 Mazda Cx 5 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

90.8%

Petrol

4,754 vehicles

89.2%

Diesel

5,220 vehicles

Before you buy a 2018 Mazda Cx 5

Based on MOT data from 9,974 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.2% 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
Diesel (52%)	5,220	89.2%	0.73
Petrol (48%)	4,754	90.8%	0.6

Colour Breakdown

Based on 60,399 Mazda Cx 5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 25.7%

15,512

Blue 21.6%

13,061

Grey 16.9%

10,219

White 14.1%

8,524

Black 13.3%

8,018

Silver 8.4%

5,053

Brown 0%

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Mazda Cx 5 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.

42,436

typical

32,773

low mileage

54,529

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Mazda Cx 5 vehicles fall between 32,773 and 54,529 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 32,773 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.

✓ 32,773–54,529 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Mazda Cx 5s sit.

⚠ Over 73,614 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 Cx 5 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Mazda Cx 5s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 9,733 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% 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

0.67

Avg failures per vehicle

5.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mazda Cx 5: All Cx 5 years → Which year to buy? →

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Mazda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Mazda Cx 5 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?