Does the Mazda 3 fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?
The Mazda 3 records 7.56 visibility failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.90 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.34, 95% interval −0.41 to −0.27). It ranks 347 of 746 models on visibility (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on visibility · check a Mazda 3 by registration
What exactly fails on visibility?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda 3 is “Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen”, recorded 13,280 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 13,280 | 2.01 |
| Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 12,817 | 1.94 |
| Wiper blade defective | 11,044 | 1.67 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 8,473 | 1.28 |
| Obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose | 2,274 | 0.34 |
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 visibility advisory, how often does it fail next time?
11.5% of Mazda 3 MOTs with a visibility advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 7,158 miles later (556 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 556 (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
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