2022 Mazda 3: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2022 Mazda 3s, from 2,569 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What gets flagged at MOT
The share of 2022 Mazda 3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres24% 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.
- Brakes12% 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 electrics4% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors3% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Seats and seatbelts1% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
- Suspension1% 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.
Looking at a Mazda 3?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 2008 | 5,313 | Suspension 63% |
| 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 2022 Mazda 3s registered in 2022. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score