Used car guide

2007 Mazda 2: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 Mazda 2s, from 2,327 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,327MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
4,900typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 Mazda 2s than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.2× usual
    Mazda 2
    24.8% All 2007 cars
    11.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 1.8% of all 2007 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.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.8× usual
    Mazda 2
    8.2% All 2007 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2.1% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Corroded fuel pipes5× usual
    Mazda 2
    4% All 2007 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2007 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.3% here, against 10.9% of all 2007 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.1% here, against 7.3% of all 2007 cars.

By area

The share of 2007 Mazda 2 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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.

  • Brakes
    39% 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
    39% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    36% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    12% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
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%
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 2007 Mazda 2s registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score