Mazda Mx 5 (2006)
2006 Mazda Mx 5
CarHunch analysed 8,541 real MOT records for the 2006 Mazda Mx 5. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2006 MX-5's 78.7% pass rate sits slightly below the UK average of 80%, which is unremarkable for an 18-year-old sports car—but the real concern is that 35.2% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd typically see and a genuine buyer warning sign. Petrol and "other" fuel variants perform almost identically, so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.
At 53,378 miles median, these MX-5s have covered moderate mileage for their age, suggesting many have been weekend or fair-weather cars rather than daily workhorses. The average of 4.05 failures and 20.1 advisories per test tells you that when one does fail, it's rarely catastrophic—mostly wear items and minor issues—but you should budget for routine maintenance and have any used example thoroughly inspected for corrosion and suspension wear before committing.
What to check before buying a 2006 Mazda Mx 5
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.
- ⚠️ 35.2% 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 Mx 5
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (98%) | 8,396 | 78.6% | 4.1 |
| Other (2%) | 144 | 84.5% | 1.08 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 66.7% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2006 Mazda Mx 5 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.
Half of all 2006 Mazda Mx 5 vehicles fall between 39,298 and 68,109 miles.
2006 Mazda Mx 5 — Still on the Road
5,504 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 70% of the peak remain.
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
Most Common MOT Issues — 2006 Mazda Mx 5
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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55.1%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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50.2%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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46.3%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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40.7%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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35.6%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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31.1%
Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened
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28.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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24.6%
Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mazda Mx 5?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.