Used car guide

2006 Mazda MX-5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Mazda MX-5s, from 5,875 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,875MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
4,100typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Mazda MX-5s than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Sub-frame1.8× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    12.7% All 2006 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.3% of all 2006 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.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings2× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    11% All 2006 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.3%, against 2.6% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings2.1× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    2.9% All 2006 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.2% of all 2006 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.

  • Rust in key structural areas1.8× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    2.1% All 2006 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.8% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.5% here, against 14.1% of all 2006 cars. Engine oil leaks: 1.9% here, against 13.7% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    40% 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
    27% 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
    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.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% 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
    11% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% 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 MX-5?

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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%
20052,954Suspension 36%
20042,762Suspension 37%
20033,549Suspension 38%
20022,812Suspension 37%
20011,741Suspension 37%
20002,398Suspension 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Mazda MX-5s registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score