Used car guide

2005 Mazda 2 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Mazda 2 first registered in 2005 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 361 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 361 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

361MOTs of 2005 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
51%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 57%)
5,400typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2005 Mazda 2 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2005 Mazda 2 diesel than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.2× usual
    Mazda 2
    9.7% All 2005 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.8% of all 2005 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 2005 Mazda 2 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2005 Mazda 2 diesel 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
    42% 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
    38% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2005 Mazda 2 diesel

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 2.2× as often on the 2005 Mazda 2 diesel 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
2023253Tyres 10%
20224,258Tyres 13%
20217,301Tyres 16%
202012,245Tyres 17%
201924,910Tyres 23%
201823,952Tyres 28%
201722,775Tyres 28%
201629,972Tyres 29%
201529,547Tyres 29%
201425,012Tyres 33%
201325,394Suspension 37%
201226,272Suspension 42%
201131,379Suspension 45%
201036,574Suspension 48%
200935,914Suspension 49%
200823,220Suspension 53%
20078,032Suspension 45%
20063,729Suspension 44%
20042,572Suspension 43%
20031,126Brakes 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Mazda 2 cars first registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score