Mazda Rx 8 (2005)
2005 Mazda Rx 8
CarHunch analysed 4,800 real MOT records for the 2005 Mazda Rx 8. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2005 Mazda RX-8 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.9%, which sits 6.1 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, suggesting moderately higher reliability concerns for this model year. More worryingly, 21.5% of these vehicles have had dangerous defects flagged during testing—well above the threshold that should give buyers pause.
These RX-8s are running at a reasonable 50,317 miles on average, yet they're accumulating 3.29 failures and 12.4 advisories per vehicle, which points to age-related wear catching up quickly on the rotary engine's ancillaries and systems. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers the engine bay electrics, cooling system, and exhaust components—the advisory count suggests these areas are where most owners encounter problems.
What to check before buying a 2005 Mazda Rx 8
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.
- ⚠️ 21.5% 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 Rx 8
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 4,797 | 73.9% | 3.29 |
| Electric (0%) | 2 | 75.6% | 4.5 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 68.8% | 5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2005 Mazda Rx 8 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 2005 Mazda Rx 8 vehicles fall between 38,326 and 59,719 miles.
2005 Mazda Rx 8 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 297 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (9% of peak).
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 — 2005 Mazda Rx 8
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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82.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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82.3%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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61.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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60.4%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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58%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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50.1%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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30.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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30.3%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mazda Rx 8?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.