Mazda 121 gl vs Mazda 3: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 121 gl
57%
MOT pass rate · 4 vehicles
Mazda 3
78%
MOT pass rate · 164,058 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda 121 gl (57%) and Mazda 3 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 121 gl | Mazda 3 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 57% | 78% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 43% | 22% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.3 | 2.0 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 3% |
| Average mileage | 68,428 mi | 90,915 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 4 | 164,058 |
Most common faults
Mazda 121 gl
- Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
- Nearside Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)
- Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
- Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
- Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
- Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)
Mazda 3
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mazda 121 gl (57%) and Mazda 3 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda 121 gl report Full Mazda 3 report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.