Does the Mazda 323 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Mazda 323 records 21.26 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 16.44 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+4.82, 95% interval +4.13 to +5.52). It ranks 99 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 323 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda 323 is “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated”, recorded 810 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 810 | 4.82 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 755 | 4.49 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 561 | 3.34 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 508 | 3.02 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 403 | 2.40 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 16,804 (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 323 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
21.8% of Mazda 323 MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 1,925 miles later (1,476 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,476 (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 323 1999 · Mazda 323 2000 · Mazda 323 2001 · Mazda 323 2002 · Mazda 323 2003 · Mazda 323 in Norway · Mazda 323 in the Netherlands · Mazda 323 by postcode area · Mazda 323 brakes failures · Mazda 323 vehicle identification failures · Mazda 323 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mazda 323 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mazda 323 road wheels failures · Mazda 323 seat belts and airbags failures · Mazda 323 steering failures · Mazda 323 suspension failures · Mazda 323 tyres failures · Mazda 323 visibility failures