Mazda Mx-5 vs Mazda Mx-5 icon: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mazda Mx-5
77%
MOT pass rate · 162,634 vehicles
Mazda Mx-5 icon
82%
MOT pass rate · 85 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Mazda Mx-5 icon is the more reliable of the two — 82% pass first time versus 77%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Mazda Mx-5 | Mazda Mx-5 icon |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 77% | 82% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 23% | 18% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.8 | 0.2 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 90,085 mi | 60,258 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 162,634 | 85 |
Most common faults
Mazda Mx-5
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Mazda Mx-5 icon
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)
- Offside Outer Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)
- Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
- Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Mazda Mx-5 icon is the more reliable of the two — 82% pass first time versus 77%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Mazda Mx-5 report Full Mazda Mx-5 icon 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.