Used car guide

2012 Mazda 5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Mazda 5s, from 744 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

744MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,700typical miles a year
4.9×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Mazda 5s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints4.9× usual
    Mazda 5
    15.6% All 2012 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 1.2% 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.

  • Sub-frame2.6× usual
    Mazda 5
    13% All 2012 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, 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.

  • Exhaust system2.3× usual
    Mazda 5
    12.4% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1.5% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Ball joint2.1× usual
    Mazda 5
    12% All 2012 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, 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.

  • Chassis rust or damage7.3× usual
    Mazda 5
    5.1% All 2012 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

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

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.9% here, against 9.6% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Mazda 5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    55% 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
    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
    34% 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
    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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% 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 5?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2015678Suspension 46%
2014575Suspension 45%
2013723Suspension 52%
2011744Suspension 59%
20101,248Suspension 61%
20091,024Suspension 63%
20081,384Suspension 63%
20071,108Suspension 67%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Mazda 5s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score