Used car guide

2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Mazda CX-5 first registered in 2014 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 17,100 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

17,100MOTs of 2014 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
72%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 70%)
8,800typical miles a year
4.2×the usual rate for track rod ends

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Track rod ends4.2× usual
    Mazda CX-5
    16.5% All 2014 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.4%, against 2% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Mazda CX-5
    13.7% All 2014 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 1.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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 arm4.5× usual
    Mazda CX-5
    5% All 2014 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.1× usual
    Mazda CX-5
    3.5% All 2014 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.7% 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.

  • Sub-frame2.1× usual
    Mazda CX-5
    3.2% All 2014 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, 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.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1% here, against 5.1% of all 2014 cars. Number plate lights: 1.6% here, against 4.6% of all 2014 cars.

Common 2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Suspension
    38% 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
    28% 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.

  • Brakes
    26% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    9% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Intake valve recall: stalling (built Jan 2012 to June 2018)

    Built Jan 2012 to June 2018

    An intake shutter valve could clog with soot and cause stalling or a no-start. Cars built January 2012 to June 2018 were recalled to clean or replace it and update the software.

    At the viewing: Ask a Mazda dealer to confirm the recall was done.

    Source: Auto Express: used Mazda CX-5 review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel

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

  1. Has the intake shutter valve recall been done?
  2. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the 2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 4.5× as often on the 2014 Mazda CX-5 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mazda CX-5?

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 CX-5 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023387Tyres 13%
20227,527Tyres 17%
202110,974Tyres 20%
202016,951Tyres 21%
201930,027Tyres 25%
201829,925Tyres 27%
201721,526Tyres 26%
201621,054Brakes 27%
201520,955Suspension 30%
201315,269Suspension 46%
20124,237Suspension 46%

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 CX-5 cars first registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score