Does the Mazda MX-5 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mazda MX-5 records 13.55 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 26.61 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−13.06, 95% interval −13.20 to −12.92). It ranks 658 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Mazda MX-5 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda MX-5 is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 10,798 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 10,798 | 2.16 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 10,504 | 2.10 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 8,560 | 1.71 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 7,961 | 1.59 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 5,552 | 1.11 |
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 lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
23.4% of Mazda MX-5 MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 2,426 miles later (4,239 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,239 (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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