Does the Mazda 3 fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?
The Mazda 3 records 22.28 suspension failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 15.58 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+6.70, 95% interval +6.59 to +6.82). It ranks 103 of 701 models on suspension (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on suspension · check a Mazda 3 by registration
What exactly fails on suspension?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda 3 is “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn”, recorded 64,958 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 64,958 | 9.84 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 27,869 | 4.22 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 12,744 | 1.93 |
| A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 11,430 | 1.73 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 10,972 | 1.66 |
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 suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?
26.8% of Mazda 3 MOTs with a suspension advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,811 miles later (97,512 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 97,512 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
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