Does the Mazda MX-5 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Mazda MX-5 records 5.19 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 10.07 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−4.88, 95% interval −4.97 to −4.79). It ranks 547 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 MX-5 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda MX-5 is “Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced”, recorded 10,280 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 10,280 | 2.06 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 5,615 | 1.12 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 4,965 | 0.99 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that steering or braking is likely to be adversely affected | 748 | 0.15 |
| A body panel or body component damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure | 725 | 0.15 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 499,285 (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 MX-5 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
10.8% of Mazda MX-5 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 1,940 miles later (21,118 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 21,118 (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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