Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2010 Mazda Rx 8?

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 2010 Mazda Rx 8?

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 2010 Mazda Rx 8?

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 2010 Mazda Rx 8 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% 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 2010 Mazda Rx 8 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 163 vehicles, the 2010 Mazda Rx 8 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2010 Mazda Rx 8?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2010 Mazda Rx 8 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (54.3% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (39.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.6% 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 2010 Mazda Rx 8?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Mazda Rx 8 (2010)

163 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.8% first-time pass rate

2010 Mazda Rx 8

CarHunch analysed 163 real MOT records for the 2010 Mazda Rx 8. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2010 Mazda RX-8 passes MOT at 83.8%, comfortably above the UK average of 80%, but nearly 3 in 10 of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significantly high rate that demands pre-purchase inspection and full service history verification. This is a sports car with real wear patterns: the median mileage of 42,139 is moderate for a 14-year-old, yet the average of 2.2 failures per vehicle and 13.9 advisories per vehicle suggests these engines accumulate niggling issues more than structural problems.

The RX-8's rotary engine is known for carbon buildup and apex seal wear, and that advisory count reflects it—expect maintenance to be more frequent and specialist knowledge to be essential. If you're serious about one, budget for a pre-purchase inspection from a Mazda specialist and factor in regular oil changes to keep the motor alive.

We have limited data for the 2010 Mazda Rx 8 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

83.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.2

Over 12.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

42k

Middle half: 29k–54k

For context

These stats describe 163 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 163 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 54.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front 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.

Tyre wear 37.6%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · 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.

Other issues 34.4%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2010.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 163 Mazda Rx 8 cars.

Before you buy a 2010 Mazda Rx 8

Based on MOT data from 163 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.2% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2010 Mazda Rx 8 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.

42,139

typical

29,473

low mileage

54,405

high mileage

Half of all 2010 Mazda Rx 8 vehicles fall between 29,473 and 54,405 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 29,473 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.

✓ 29,473–54,405 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2010 Mazda Rx 8s sit.

⚠ Over 73,446 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2010 Mazda Rx 8 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 61% of 2010 Mazda Rx 8s are still active.

91 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 61% 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.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.2

Avg failures per vehicle

13.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mazda Rx 8: All Rx 8 years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Mazda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2010 Mazda Rx 8 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing