Used car guide

2004 Mazda 2: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Mazda 2 first registered in 2004: we looked at the 662 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

662MOTs of 2004 cars, done in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
3,800typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Mazda 2?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Mazda 2 than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.4× usual
    Mazda 2
    11.6% All 2004 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.8% of all 2004 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.

Common 2004 Mazda 2 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Mazda 2 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    45% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    44% 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
    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.

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Mazda 2

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2004 Mazda 2 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mazda 2?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Mazda 2 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023254Tyres 10%
20224,071Tyres 13%
20213,651Tyres 19%
20204,116Tyres 23%
20198,400Tyres 26%
20188,077Tyres 30%
20177,675Tyres 29%
201610,073Tyres 29%
20159,952Tyres 30%
20148,341Suspension 36%
20138,414Suspension 42%
20128,650Suspension 45%
201110,216Suspension 48%
201011,541Suspension 51%
200910,995Suspension 52%
20086,902Suspension 56%
20072,327Suspension 47%
20061,027Suspension 46%
2005880Suspension 47%
2003296Brakes 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Mazda 2 cars first registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score