Does the Mazda E Series fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Mazda E Series records 20.51 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 18.20 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+2.31, 95% interval +1.09 to +3.53). It ranks 209 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Mazda E Series by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda E Series is “Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake”, recorded 152 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 152 | 2.87 |
| Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 141 | 2.66 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 113 | 2.13 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 96 | 1.81 |
| Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 86 | 1.62 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,304 (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 E Series gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
15.8% of Mazda E Series MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 3,143 miles later (1,068 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,068 (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 E Series by postcode area · Mazda E Series body, chassis and structure failures · Mazda E Series lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mazda E Series noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mazda E Series seat belts and airbags failures · Mazda E Series steering failures · Mazda E Series suspension failures · Mazda E Series tyres failures · Mazda E Series visibility failures