Used car guide · 1995–2020

Mazda Bongo common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mazda Bongo, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 9,722 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

9,722MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995

What usually goes wrong with a Mazda Bongo?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mazda Bongo in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mazda Bongo MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

  • Rear fog light

    up to 6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Body structure rust or damage

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

    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.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1997, 1999 and 2000.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997 and 2005.

    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.

  • Chassis rust or damage

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996 and 2005.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Mazda Bongo MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202074%86% -12110 (small sample)
201966%84% -18103 (small sample)
201864%81% -17150 (small sample)
201763%78% -15191 (small sample)
201653%75% -22300 (small sample)
201553%72% -19332 (small sample)
201453%69% -16337 (small sample)
201360%66% -6266 (small sample)
201254%63% -9221 (small sample)
201148%61% -13270 (small sample)
201051%59% -8292 (small sample)
200949%58% -9271 (small sample)
200847%57% -10332 (small sample)
200751%57% -6445 (small sample)
200653%57% -4474 (small sample)
200557%58% -1588
200463%58% +5515
200359%59% +0380 (small sample)
200265%60% +5597
200159%61% -2542
200059%63% -4501
199957%65% -8529
199849%66% -17365 (small sample)
199750%67% -17552
199649%67% -18581
199548%67% -19478 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mazda Bongo

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

  1. Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 6× as often on the Mazda Bongo as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the body structure rust or damage? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Mazda Bongo as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Mazda Bongo as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mazda Bongo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score