Used car guide

2008 Mazda 3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Mazda 3s, from 5,313 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,313MOT tests in 2025

51%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)

5,900typical miles a year

2.9×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Mazda 3s than on all cars registered in 2008.

Sub-frame2.9× usual

Mazda 3
22.8% All 2008 cars
7.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.4% of all 2008 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.
Headlights2.1× usual

Mazda 3
22.2% All 2008 cars
10.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 8.4%, against 4.3% of all 2008 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.
Suspension arm3.6× usual

Mazda 3
13.5% All 2008 cars
3.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Ball joint2.3× usual

Mazda 3
15.2% All 2008 cars
6.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 3.2% of all 2008 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.
Anti-roll bar link joints3× usual

Mazda 3
12.4% All 2008 cars
4.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.6% of all 2008 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.4% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Mazda 3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

63% 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.
Lights and electrics

44% 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

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.
Brakes

31% 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.
Oil and fluid leaks

14% 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.
Rust and bodywork

13% 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.

Looking at a Mazda 3?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2022	2,569	Tyres 24%
2021	4,089	Tyres 25%
2020	4,323	Tyres 28%
2019	4,461	Tyres 30%
2018	7,048	Tyres 31%
2017	8,198	Brakes 34%
2016	10,503	Brakes 34%
2015	11,663	Brakes 35%
2014	8,180	Brakes 35%
2013	5,008	Suspension 45%
2012	4,696	Suspension 52%
2011	5,081	Suspension 53%
2010	7,577	Suspension 56%
2009	6,643	Suspension 57%
2007	4,171	Suspension 63%
2006	2,935	Suspension 62%
2005	1,965	Suspension 62%
2004	552	Suspension 61%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Mazda 3s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score