Used car guide

2011 Mazda 3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Mazda 3s, from 5,081 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,081MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
6,800typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Mazda 3s than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Ball joint3.3× usual
    Mazda 3
    20.2% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.8%, against 3.2% of all 2011 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.

  • Sub-frame3.1× usual
    Mazda 3
    18% All 2011 cars
    5.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.3% of all 2011 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.

  • Suspension arm4× usual
    Mazda 3
    13.2% All 2011 cars
    3.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.4% of all 2011 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.3× usual
    Mazda 3
    12.7% All 2011 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.4% of all 2011 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× usual
    Mazda 3
    11.4% All 2011 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 3.2% of all 2011 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.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.8% here, against 10.3% of all 2011 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.4% here, against 10.8% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Mazda 3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    53% 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
    37% 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
    11% 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.

  • 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.

Looking at a Mazda 3?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,569Tyres 24%
20214,089Tyres 25%
20204,323Tyres 28%
20194,461Tyres 30%
20187,048Tyres 31%
20178,198Brakes 34%
201610,503Brakes 34%
201511,663Brakes 35%
20148,180Brakes 35%
20135,008Suspension 45%
20124,696Suspension 52%
20107,577Suspension 56%
20096,643Suspension 57%
20085,313Suspension 63%
20074,171Suspension 63%
20062,935Suspension 62%
20051,965Suspension 62%
2004552Suspension 61%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Mazda 3s registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score