Mazda 1300 vs Mazda 3: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 1300
83%
MOT pass rate · 5,591 vehicles
Mazda 3
78%
MOT pass rate · 164,058 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda 1300 (83%) 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 1300 | Mazda 3 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 83% ✓ | 78% |
| MOT failure rate | 17% ✓ | 22% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.5 ✓ | 2.0 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 3% |
| Average mileage | 51,992 mi | 90,915 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 5,591 | 164,058 |
Most common faults
Mazda 1300
- Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired (2.4.A.3)
- Offside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))
- Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))
- FRONT SHOCKS SOFT
- BLOW FROM 1ST EXHAUST BOX
- FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS SOFT !!
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 1300 (83%) and Mazda 3 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda 1300 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.