Mazda RX-8 2006: MOT failure rate for its age
35.1% of 3,934 MOT tests of the Mazda RX-8 first registered in 2006 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 102.4 (95% CI 97.0–107.8; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2006 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age. This is a rough estimate from a smaller sample.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 35.1 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 3934 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 97.0–107.8) | 102.4 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 3934 |
| Rank among this model's 8 build years | 5 | of 8 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 3934 |
| Tested in 2024 | 556 | tests | median 64,321 miles | 2024 | 556 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2006 Mazda RX-8 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2006 were tested at ages 13 to 18 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 62 (rough estimate) | 35.5 | 24.7–47.9 | 37.2 | 95.3 |
| 14 | 984 | 34.1 | 31.3–37.2 | 34.1 | 100.1 |
| 15 | 918 | 35.6 | 32.6–38.8 | 35 | 101.9 |
| 16 | 769 | 34.6 | 31.3–38 | 34.3 | 100.8 |
| 17 | 645 | 35.2 | 31.6–39 | 33.9 | 103.7 |
| 18 | 556 | 36.3 | 32.4–40.4 | 33.3 | 109 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,934 (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 2006 Mazda RX-8?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2006 is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 27.1 items per 100 first tests, against 23.7 across all build years of the Mazda RX-8. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2006 were tested at ages 13 to 18.
| Failure group | Built 2006, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 27.1 | 23.7 | 1,067 |
| Suspension | 23.3 | 23.3 | 918 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 20.6 | 20.9 | 811 |
| Brakes | 15.4 | 15.7 | 605 |
| Tyres | 8.7 | 7.8 | 341 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,934 (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 2006 compare with the years around it?
Among the 8 published build years of the Mazda RX-8, 2006 ranks 5 (1 = fails least for its age). 2005: index 106.3. 2007: index 100.1.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 104.5 | 90.2–118.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 580 |
| 2004 | 104.8 | 99.0–110.7 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,439 |
| 2005 | 106.3 | 99.7–112.9 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,732 |
| 2006 | 102.4 | 97.0–107.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,934 |
| 2007 | 100.1 | 94.8–105.5 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,939 |
| 2008 | 91.7 | 85.0–98.3 | better (rough estimate) | 2,390 |
| 2009 | 79.5 | 70.8–88.2 | better (rough estimate) | 1,231 |
| 2010 | 76.2 | 59.3–93.1 | better (rough estimate) | 317 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 18,562 (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 RX-8 2006 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-rx-8/2006/
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 RX-8 2003 · Mazda RX-8 2004 · Mazda RX-8 2005 · Mazda RX-8 2007 · Mazda RX-8 2008 · Mazda RX-8 2009 · Mazda RX-8 2010 · Mazda RX-8 by postcode area · Mazda RX-8 body, chassis and structure failures · Mazda RX-8 brakes failures · Mazda RX-8 vehicle identification failures · Mazda RX-8 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mazda RX-8 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mazda RX-8 road wheels failures · Mazda RX-8 seat belts and airbags failures · Mazda RX-8 steering failures · Mazda RX-8 suspension failures · Mazda RX-8 tyres failures · Mazda RX-8 visibility failures