Mazda 3 vs Mazda Dba-dc5w: 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 Dba-dc5w
67%
MOT pass rate · 1 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda 3 (78%) and Mazda Dba-dc5w (67%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda 3 | Mazda Dba-dc5w |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% ✓ | 67% |
| MOT failure rate | 22% ✓ | 33% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 ✓ | 3.5 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% ✓ | 6% |
| Average mileage | 90,915 mi | 166,809 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 164,058 | 1 |
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 Dba-dc5w
- Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))
- Offside Rear Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))
- Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Mazda 3 (78%) and Mazda Dba-dc5w (67%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Mazda 3 report Full Mazda Dba-dc5w 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.