Mazda 323 MOT failures and reliability

In 2023 the Mazda 323 took 1,705 MOT tests in Britain and passed 57% of them first time, below the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.

MOT tests in 2023

1,705

First-time pass rate

57%

All cars

71%

What the 323 fails on

Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.

• Suspension19.9% (all cars 9.0%)
• Lights and electrics15.4% (all cars 11.3%)
• Brakes14.5% (all cars 6.8%)
• Body and structure9.8% (all cars 3.5%)
• Exhaust and emissions7.3% (all cars 3.1%)
• Visibility6.8% (all cars 4.8%)
• Tyres6.5% (all cars 6.4%)
• Seat belts and airbags3.9% (all cars 1.0%)

Most common failure items

Share of tests on which each item was recorded.

1. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength 10.2%
2. Position lamp: not working 4.3%
3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 3.5%
4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements 3.4%
5. Stop lamp: not working 3.4%
6. Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3.1%
7. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn 3.0%
8. Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced 2.9%

Most common advisories

1. Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 16.8%
2. Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 16.8%
3. Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 11.0%
4. Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material 11.0%
5. Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread 9.4%
6. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive 9.3%
7. Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 9.2%
8. Brake pads: wearing thin 7.6%

Check a particular 323

Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.

Other Mazda models

• Mazda 2
• Mazda 3
• Mazda MX 5
• Mazda 6
• Mazda CX 5
• Mazda CX 3
• Mazda 5
• Mazda Bongo
• Mazda CX 30
• Mazda RX 8
• Mazda B Series
• Mazda CX 7

Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.