Mazda 3 vs Mazda 626 celebration: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda 3
78%
MOT pass rate · 164,058 vehicles
Mazda 626 celebration
62%
MOT pass rate · 21 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda 3 (78%) and Mazda 626 celebration (62%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 3 | Mazda 626 celebration |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% ✓ | 62% |
| MOT failure rate | 22% ✓ | 38% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 | 1.6 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 90,915 mi | 104,293 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 164,058 | 21 |
Most common faults
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))
Mazda 626 celebration
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
- Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mazda 3 (78%) and Mazda 626 celebration (62%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda 3 report Full Mazda 626 celebration 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.