Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Mazda Mx 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 2021 Mazda Mx 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 2021 Mazda Mx 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.

Is the 2021 Mazda Mx 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 290 vehicles, the 2021 Mazda Mx 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 96%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Mazda Mx 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Mazda Mx 5 are: Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (18.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (17.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15.6% 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 2021 Mazda Mx 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 Mx 5 (2021)

290 real MOT outcomes analysed • 96% first-time pass rate

2021 Mazda Mx 5

CarHunch analysed 290 real MOT records for the 2021 Mazda Mx 5. 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 Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Mazda MX-5 is exceptionally reliable, with a 95.7% first-time pass rate that crushes the UK average of 80%—and dangerous defects are virtually non-existent at just 1.7% of cars. This is a genuinely dependable roadster with no meaningful petrol/diesel split to worry about.

At just under 15,000 miles median mileage, these are lightly used examples, and the 0.12 average failures per vehicle confirms most aren't battling serious mechanical issues. If you're considering one, focus your pre-purchase inspection on the single advisory item that appears per car on average—likely routine wear—and you'll probably find a well-sorted machine.

We have limited data for the 2021 Mazda Mx 5 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

96%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

1.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.12

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 10k–23k

For context

These stats describe 290 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 290 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 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 290 Mazda Mx 5 cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Mazda Mx 5

Based on MOT data from 290 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 1.7% 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

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 2021 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.

14,890

typical

9,602

low mileage

22,953

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Mazda Mx 5 vehicles fall between 9,602 and 22,953 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,602 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.

✓ 9,602–22,953 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Mazda Mx 5s sit.

⚠ Over 30,986 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.12

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022

Or browse all models: Mazda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Mazda Mx 5 stacks up against a rival.

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