Used car guide

2003 Mazda 2: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Mazda 2s, from 296 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 296 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

296MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
3,900typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Mazda 2s than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.8× usual
    Mazda 2
    32.8% All 2003 cars
    18.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.1%, against 2.7% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

By area

The share of 2003 Mazda 2 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    47% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    40% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    35% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    17% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023254Tyres 10%
20224,071Tyres 13%
20213,651Tyres 19%
20204,116Tyres 23%
20198,400Tyres 26%
20188,077Tyres 30%
20177,675Tyres 29%
201610,073Tyres 29%
20159,952Tyres 30%
20148,341Suspension 36%
20138,414Suspension 42%
20128,650Suspension 45%
201110,216Suspension 48%
201011,541Suspension 51%
200910,995Suspension 52%
20086,902Suspension 56%
20072,327Suspension 47%
20061,027Suspension 46%
2005880Suspension 47%
2004662Lights and electrics 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Mazda 2s registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score