Mazda 2 vs Mazda 3 ts a: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 2
78%
MOT pass rate · 146,943 vehicles
Mazda 3 ts a
75%
MOT pass rate · 3 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda 2 (78%) and Mazda 3 ts a (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 2 | Mazda 3 ts a |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% ✓ | 75% |
| MOT failure rate | 22% ✓ | 25% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.7 | 0.8 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 76,654 mi | 24,584 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 146,943 | 3 |
Most common faults
Mazda 2
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
Mazda 3 ts a
- n/s rear tyre is very worn
- Centre Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking (2.3.3b)
- Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
- Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
- Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
- Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mazda 2 (78%) and Mazda 3 ts a (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda 2 report Full Mazda 3 ts a 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.