Does the Mazda 323 fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Mazda 323 records 3.77 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 6.95 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−3.18, 95% interval −3.58 to −2.78). It ranks 562 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Mazda 323 by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda 323 is “Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated”, recorded 333 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 333 | 1.98 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 130 | 0.77 |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 72 | 0.43 |
| Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning | 34 | 0.20 |
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
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 body, chassis and structure failures · 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 suspension failures · Mazda 323 tyres failures · Mazda 323 visibility failures