1992 · 32 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1992 Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate and common faults

375 MOT tests in 2024. 69.6% passed first time, compared with 68.8% for all cars the same age.

101About average
Passed first time69.6%
Failed or needed repairs30.4%
Typical mileage at test112,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 375 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced4.3%
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.2%
  3. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.7%
  4. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.7%
  5. Rear fog lamp: not working2.1%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.1%
  7. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength2.1%
  8. Headlamp aim: too high2.1%
  9. Horn: not working1.9%
  10. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.9%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics20.8%
  2. Brakes18.4%
  3. Suspension12.3%
  4. Emissions & leaks9.1%
  5. Body & chassis7.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.1%
  7. Seat belts & airbags5.1%
  8. Steering4.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine19.2%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded17.9%
  3. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened8.3%
  4. Service brake performance: excessively binding5.9%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened5.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1992 Mazda MX-5?

In 2024, 69.6% of 1992 Mazda MX-5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 375 tests. The average for all 32-year-old cars was 68.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1992 Mazda MX-5?

The most common failure reasons were seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; service brake performance: excessively binding. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1992 Mazda MX-5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 101, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).