Used car guide

2014 Mazda MX-5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Mazda MX-5s, from 2,835 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,835MOT tests in 2025
80%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
3,700typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Mazda MX-5s than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Sub-frame1.8× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    4.5% All 2014 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2014 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.1× usual
    Mazda MX-5
    3.5% All 2014 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.6% of all 2014 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

Tread depth: 8.6% here, against 21% of all 2014 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.3% here, against 8.2% of all 2014 cars.

By area

The share of 2014 Mazda MX-5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    21% 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.

  • Tyres
    19% 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
    11% 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
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Rust and bodywork
    1% 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 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%
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%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Mazda MX-5s registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score