Used car guide

1990 Mazda MX-5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1990 Mazda MX-5s, from 744 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

744MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 1990 cars: 73%)
3,200typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1990 Mazda MX-5s than on all cars registered in 1990.

  • Ball joint dust cover3.2× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    7.3% All 1990 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 0.7% of all 1990 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-frame4× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    4.8% All 1990 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 1990 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 arm2.8× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    4.8% All 1990 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.2% of all 1990 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 bushes3.5× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    4.2% All 1990 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 1990 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

By area

The share of 1990 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    31% 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.

  • 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
    24% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Rust and bodywork
    15% 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
    13% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,355Tyres 10%
20211,464Tyres 16%
20201,057Tyres 19%
20194,003Tyres 19%
20184,240Brakes 21%
20174,566Brakes 22%
20164,088Brakes 25%
20152,975Brakes 21%
20142,835Brakes 22%
20133,079Suspension 25%
20123,097Suspension 25%
20113,362Suspension 30%
20104,591Suspension 31%
20094,060Suspension 33%
20085,189Suspension 37%
20077,291Suspension 38%
20065,875Suspension 40%
20052,954Suspension 36%
20042,762Suspension 37%
20033,549Suspension 38%
20022,812Suspension 37%
20011,741Suspension 37%
20002,398Suspension 35%
19992,406Brakes 35%
19982,306Suspension 33%
19971,709Suspension 32%
19961,155Brakes 33%
1995778Suspension 31%
1994493Suspension 31%
1993575Brakes 34%
1992590Suspension 38%
1991798Brakes 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1990 Mazda MX-5s registered in 1990. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score