Does the Mazda RX-8 fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Mazda RX-8 records 15.69 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 22.16 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−6.47, 95% interval −7.13 to −5.80). It ranks 603 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 RX-8 by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mazda RX-8 is “Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake”, recorded 821 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 821 | 4.23 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 481 | 2.48 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 270 | 1.39 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 207 | 1.07 |
| 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. | 156 | 0.80 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 19,422 (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 RX-8 gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
12.5% of Mazda RX-8 MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 1,870 miles later (3,176 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,176 (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 RX-8 2003 · Mazda RX-8 2004 · Mazda RX-8 2005 · Mazda RX-8 2006 · 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 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