Used car guide · 2005–2016

Mazda 5 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mazda 5, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 31,592 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2016 Mazda 5

Too few Mazda 5 cars first registered in 2016 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Mazda 5 as a whole.

15on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 2016 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

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).

201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005

What usually goes wrong with a Mazda 5?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mazda 5 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 5 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Exhaust system

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Diesel

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 8.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 4.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

  • Ball joint

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 3.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2011.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Mazda 5 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Mazda 5 did best (60% passed first time, 4 points below all 2012 cars) and the 2007 did worst (45%, 12 points below all 2007 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201568%74% -62,059
201465%70% -51,746
201361%67% -62,264
201260%64% -42,360
201158%62% -42,409
201051%60% -94,258
200948%59% -113,786
200848%57% -95,524
200745%57% -124,648
200645%56% -112,012
200545%57% -12526

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mazda 5

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

  1. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 7.8× as often on the Mazda 5 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the Mazda 5 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the Mazda 5 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mazda 5?

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 2023–2025, 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