Mazda

Mazda Mx 5 (2019)

4,000 real MOT outcomes analysed • 94.3% first-time pass rate

2019 Mazda Mx 5

CarHunch analysed 4,000 real MOT records for the 2019 Mazda Mx 5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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On this page
AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2019 Mazda MX-5 is a genuinely reliable car, with a first-time pass rate of 94.3% well above the UK average of 80%, and only 7.8% of vehicles ever flagged with a dangerous defect—a low concern for buyers. The tiny failure rate of 0.31 per vehicle and modest advisory count of 3.0 confirm this is a robust, well-engineered roadster with minimal structural or safety issues.

At 17,048 miles median and 19,169 miles average, these are lightly used cars for their age, which explains much of their cleanliness at MOT. When failures do occur, they're typically minor wear items rather than systemic problems—so if you're buying one, focus your pre-purchase inspection on consumables like brakes and tyres rather than worrying about engine or transmission trouble.

The 2019 Mazda Mx 5 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (94.3% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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
94.3%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
7.9%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.31
Over 4.4 tests on record
Low
Typical mileage
17k
Middle half: 11k–25k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 94.3% 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 3 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 4,000 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.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 4,000 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 18.3%
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · 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 14.3%
Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside 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.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2019.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,000 Mazda Mx 5 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2019 Mazda Mx 5

Based on MOT data from 4,000 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 7.9% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 160,670 Mazda Mx 5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 22.5%
36,187
Silver 18.2%
29,219
Blue 17.2%
27,661
Black 12.7%
20,412
Green 10.6%
17,074
Grey 9.8%
15,805
White 4.9%
7,909
Gold 1.2%
1,980
Yellow 1%
1,671
Maroon 0.8%
1,265
Orange 0.6%
1,043
Multi-colour 0.3%
444

Mileage Distribution

Most 2019 Mazda Mx 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.

17,048
typical
10,996
low mileage
24,837
high mileage

Half of all 2019 Mazda Mx 5 vehicles fall between 10,996 and 24,837 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 10,996 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.
10,996–24,837 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2019 Mazda Mx 5s sit.
Over 33,529 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2019 Mazda Mx 5 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2019 Mazda Mx 5s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,879 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

3,911 3,879 2022 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2022–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.31
Avg failures per vehicle
3
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Mazda Mx 5: All Mx 5 years → Which year to buy? →
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Compare with another model

See how the 2019 Mazda Mx 5 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?