Used car guide

2005 Mazda B Series: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Mazda B Seriess, from 307 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 307 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

307MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
5,500typical miles a year
5.8×the usual rate for chassis rust or damage

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Mazda B Seriess than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Chassis rust or damage5.8× usual
    Mazda B Series
    20.8% All 2005 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.1%, against 1% of all 2005 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.

  • Rear fog light8.5× usual
    Mazda B Series
    11.1% All 2005 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.4%, against 1.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 6.5% here, against 14.5% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Mazda B Series MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% 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
    39% 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.

  • Suspension
    35% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    30% 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.

  • Tyres
    21% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    16% 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 B Series?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006119Lights and electrics 44%
2004144Brakes 41%
2003225Brakes 45%
2002204Brakes 42%
2001105Brakes 47%
2000144Lights and electrics 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Mazda B Seriess registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score