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MOT reliability

Mazda 121

6,017 vehicles · 50,750 completed MOT tests analysed
63%
MOT pass rate

Based on 6,017 Mazda 121 vehicles and 50,750 completed MOT tests, the Mazda 121 has an overall 63% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 81,994 miles.

6,017
Vehicles
50,750
MOT tests
4,897
Avg miles / year
2.8
Faults per test
0%
Dangerous-fault share

Mazda 121 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Mazda 121 MOT tests:

  • Other102%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension5%
  • Emissions & nuisance4%
  • Seatbelts & equipment3%
  • Brakes3%
  • Steering3%
  • Body & structure0%
  • Lamps & electrical0%

Mazda 121 pass rate by age

How the Mazda 121's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
12100%
2367%
31471%
49878%
515277%
638278%
71,23472%
82,45870%
94,16767%
105,76765%
115,58063%
125,23461%
134,67060%
144,04359%
153,49759%
163,00161%
172,56962%
182,22160%
191,50363%
201,11063%

Fuel types: Petrol (5,906), Diesel (107), Other (3), LPG (1)

Most common Mazda 121 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Mazda 121 MOT tests:

  1. Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (2,779 times)
  2. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (2,767 times)
  3. Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (2,348 times)
  4. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (2,319 times)
  5. Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (2,279 times)
  6. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (2,206 times)
  7. Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) (1,828 times)
  8. Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) (1,655 times)
  9. Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d) (1,528 times)
  10. Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d) (1,481 times)
  11. Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c) (1,478 times)
  12. Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3) (1,469 times)
  13. Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c) (1,418 times)
  14. Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (1,415 times)
  15. Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3) (1,344 times)

Mazda 121 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2006 1 11 82% 93,495
2004 4 34 76% 72,376
2002 60 831 69% 82,748
2001 55 663 65% 76,237
2000 82 981 70% 72,602
1999 561 6,469 66% 82,287
1998 774 8,117 63% 81,783
1997 1,094 10,673 62% 76,846
1996 1,531 12,958 61% 76,080
1995 70 526 64% 82,559
1994 162 1,039 61% 96,405
1993 159 873 64% 86,970
1992 143 888 63% 83,991
1991 276 1,659 63% 92,211
1990 287 1,283 63% 92,494
1989 378 1,839 65% 89,389
1988 376 1,897 64% 91,114
1977 1 3 33% 43,538

Mazda 121 reliability FAQ

Across 6,017 Mazda 121 vehicles in our MOT data, 63% pass the MOT (a 37% failure rate), with about 2.8 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Mazda 121 MOT issues are: Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7); Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7); Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c).

The typical Mazda 121 in our data has covered around 81,994 miles.

Compare the Mazda 121

See how the Mazda 121 stacks up against other Mazda models on MOT reliability:

121 vs 3 121 vs Mx-5 121 vs 6 121 vs 2

Check a specific Mazda 121

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Mazda models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks