Used car guide

2012 Mazda 2: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Mazda 2s, from 8,650 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,650MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
5,500typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Mazda 2s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Ball joint2.5× usual
    Mazda 2
    14.1% All 2012 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.9%, against 3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Headlights2.7× usual
    Mazda 2
    12.5% All 2012 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 2.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Sub-frame2.3× usual
    Mazda 2
    11.6% All 2012 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.1× usual
    Mazda 2
    11.8% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.8% of all 2012 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.

  • Track rod ends1.9× usual
    Mazda 2
    9.5% All 2012 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

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

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.6% here, against 10.1% of all 2012 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 0.5% here, against 4.4% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Mazda 2 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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
    34% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    26% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    25% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Steering
    8% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Looking at a Mazda 2?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

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%
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 2012 Mazda 2s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score