Does the Mazda 3 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Mazda 3 records 3.42 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.34 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.92, 95% interval −1.98 to −1.86). It ranks 448 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Mazda 3 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda 3 is “Exhaust system leaking or insecure”, recorded 5,503 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 5,503 | 0.83 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 3,678 | 0.56 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 3,206 | 0.49 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 2,909 | 0.44 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 2,179 | 0.33 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 660,043 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Mazda 3 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
11.9% of Mazda 3 MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,677 miles later (19,093 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 19,093 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mazda 3 2004 · Mazda 3 2005 · Mazda 3 2006 · Mazda 3 2007 · Mazda 3 2008 · Mazda 3 2009 · Mazda 3 2010 · Mazda 3 2011 · Mazda 3 2012 · Mazda 3 2013 · Mazda 3 2014 · Mazda 3 2015 · Mazda 3 2016 · Mazda 3 2017 · Mazda 3 2018 · Mazda 3 2019 · Mazda 3 2020 · Mazda 3 in Norway · Mazda 3 in Finland · Mazda 3 in the Netherlands · Mazda 3 by postcode area · Mazda 3 brakes failures · Mazda 3 vehicle identification failures · Mazda 3 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mazda 3 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mazda 3 road wheels failures · Mazda 3 seat belts and airbags failures · Mazda 3 steering failures · Mazda 3 suspension failures · Mazda 3 tyres failures · Mazda 3 visibility failures