Used car guide

2012 Mazda MX-5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Mazda MX-5s, from 3,097 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,097MOT tests in 2025
80%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
3,900typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for braking performance

What stands out

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

  • Braking performance1.7× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    8.5% All 2012 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Tread depth: 8.8% here, against 22.3% of all 2012 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.3% here, against 10.1% of all 2012 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    25% 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
    22% 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
    12% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    2% 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.

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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%
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%

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