Mazda 6 2012: MOT failure rate for its age
31.9% of 19,855 MOT tests of the Mazda 6 first registered in 2012 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 104.7 (95% CI 102.1–107.3; 100 = normal for this model at that age): close to other build years of the same model at the same age (within 5 points of normal).
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 31.9 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 19855 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 102.1–107.3) | 104.7 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 19855 |
| Rank among this model's 19 build years | 16 | of 19 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 19855 |
| Tested in 2024 | 2862 | tests | median 100,755 miles | 2024 | 2862 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2012 Mazda 6 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2012 were tested at ages 7 to 12 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 3,654 | 26.9 | 25.5–28.4 | 23 | 117 |
| 8 | 3,497 | 28.7 | 27.2–30.2 | 25.4 | 113 |
| 9 | 3,436 | 30.4 | 28.8–31.9 | 28.9 | 104.9 |
| 10 | 3,299 | 33.5 | 31.9–35.2 | 32.3 | 103.8 |
| 11 | 3,107 | 34.8 | 33.1–36.5 | 36.5 | 95.2 |
| 12 | 2,862 | 39.2 | 37.4–41 | 39.5 | 99.2 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 19,855 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2012 Mazda 6?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2012 is brakes: 23.2 items per 100 first tests, against 19.5 across all build years of the Mazda 6. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2012 were tested at ages 7 to 12.
| Failure group | Built 2012, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 23.2 | 19.5 | 4,599 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 19.9 | 19.1 | 3,945 |
| Suspension | 13.9 | 19.5 | 2,750 |
| Tyres | 8.5 | 8.2 | 1,686 |
| Visibility | 7.7 | 8 | 1,527 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 19,855 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2012 compare with the years around it?
Among the 19 published build years of the Mazda 6, 2012 ranks 16 (1 = fails least for its age). 2011: index 105.7. 2013: index 90.3.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 98.6 | 89.9–107.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 969 |
| 2003 | 103.1 | 98.1–108.2 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,083 |
| 2004 | 106.9 | 103.2–110.6 | worse | 5,975 |
| 2005 | 107.0 | 104.3–109.6 | worse | 12,306 |
| 2006 | 100.2 | 98.0–102.4 | no different | 17,182 |
| 2007 | 102.4 | 100.5–104.2 | worse | 26,601 |
| 2008 | 103.9 | 102.2–105.6 | worse | 33,209 |
| 2009 | 94.6 | 93.0–96.2 | better | 34,372 |
| 2010 | 98.4 | 96.8–100.0 | no different | 40,357 |
| 2011 | 105.7 | 103.6–107.7 | worse | 29,849 |
| 2012 | 104.7 | 102.1–107.3 | worse | 19,855 |
| 2013 | 90.3 | 88.1–92.4 | better | 27,923 |
| 2014 | 95.2 | 93.2–97.1 | better | 40,446 |
| 2015 | 99.4 | 97.3–101.6 | no different | 42,116 |
| 2016 | 102.6 | 100.3–105.0 | worse | 42,697 |
| 2017 | 97.2 | 94.0–100.4 | no different | 24,851 |
| 2018 | 92.9 | 88.5–97.4 | better | 13,152 |
| 2019 | 85.2 | 80.8–89.6 | better | 13,531 |
| 2020 | 85.0 | 72.9–97.2 | better (rough estimate) | 2,105 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 430,579 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Mazda 6 2012 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/mazda-6/2012/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Mazda 6 2002 · Mazda 6 2003 · Mazda 6 2004 · Mazda 6 2005 · Mazda 6 2006 · Mazda 6 2007 · Mazda 6 2008 · Mazda 6 2009 · Mazda 6 2010 · Mazda 6 2011 · Mazda 6 2013 · Mazda 6 2014 · Mazda 6 2015 · Mazda 6 2016 · Mazda 6 2017 · Mazda 6 2018 · Mazda 6 2019 · Mazda 6 2020 · Mazda 6 in Norway · Mazda 6 in Finland · Mazda 6 in the Netherlands · Mazda 6 by postcode area · Mazda 6 body, chassis and structure failures · Mazda 6 brakes failures · Mazda 6 vehicle identification failures · Mazda 6 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mazda 6 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mazda 6 road wheels failures · Mazda 6 seat belts and airbags failures · Mazda 6 steering failures · Mazda 6 suspension failures · Mazda 6 tyres failures · Mazda 6 visibility failures