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Mazda Friends vs Mazda Mx-5: reliability comparison

MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.

Mazda Friends
64%
MOT pass rate · 1 vehicles
Mazda Mx-5
77%
MOT pass rate · 162,634 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Mazda Friends (64%) and Mazda Mx-5 (77%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.

Head to head

Measure Mazda Friends Mazda Mx-5
MOT pass rate 64% 77% ✓
MOT failure rate 36% 23% ✓
Faults & advisories per test 2.6 1.8 ✓
Dangerous-fault share 0% ✓ 1%
Average mileage 122,349 mi 90,085 mi
Sample size (vehicles) 1 162,634

Most common faults

Mazda Friends

  1. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
  2. Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
  3. Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
  4. Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)
  5. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
  6. Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Mazda Mx-5

  1. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  2. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  3. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
  4. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
  5. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  6. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Reliability FAQ

On MOT pass rate the Mazda Friends (64%) and Mazda Mx-5 (77%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.

Full Mazda Friends report Full Mazda Mx-5 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.