Used car guide

2008 Mazda 6: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Mazda 6s, from 2,532 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,532MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
7,200typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Mazda 6s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Sub-frame3× usual
    Mazda 6
    23.2% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, 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.

  • Headlights2.3× usual
    Mazda 6
    24.1% All 2008 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, 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 arm3.9× usual
    Mazda 6
    14.6% All 2008 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, 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.

  • Number plate lights2.1× usual
    Mazda 6
    18.4% All 2008 cars
    8.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 2.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.5× usual
    Mazda 6
    11.8% All 2008 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 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.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.5% here, against 12.2% of all 2008 cars. Engine oil leaks: 5.5% here, against 12.5% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Mazda 6 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% 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
    49% 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
    44% 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.

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% 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.

  • 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 6?

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

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022716Tyres 16%
2021658Tyres 23%
20201,048Tyres 24%
20194,395Tyres 27%
20183,210Tyres 29%
20174,653Tyres 30%
20166,752Suspension 30%
20156,282Suspension 36%
20145,727Suspension 41%
20133,778Suspension 44%
20122,571Suspension 45%
20113,366Suspension 45%
20104,225Suspension 49%
20093,024Suspension 51%
20071,782Suspension 57%
2006972Suspension 51%
2005566Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Mazda 6s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score