Used car guide · 1990–2026

Mazda MX-5 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mazda MX-5, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 275,940 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2026 Mazda MX-5

Cars registered in 2026 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. 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 MX-5 as a whole.

886registered new in 2026 so far
2029first MOT due
Petrolfuel type
What to check on a 2026 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

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).

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990

What usually goes wrong with a Mazda MX-5?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Stop-start fire risk (built May 2015 to Apr 2017)

    Cars registered 2015–2017 · Built 2015 to 2017

    The i-ELOOP stop-start system on cars built 15 May 2015 to 13 April 2017 can overheat and, in extreme cases, catch fire. A dealer should check it and update the software.

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

    Source: What Car?: used Mazda MX-5 (2015 on) reliability

  • Rear differential whine

    Cars registered 2005–2014 · All engines

    Wear inside the rear differential makes it whine. The fix is a replacement differential.

    At the viewing: Listen for whining from the back at a steady speed and when lifting off.

    Source: Haynes: Mazda MX-5 NC common problems (2005-2015)

  • Sticking brake calipers

    Cars registered 2005–2014 · All engines

    On cars that aren’t used much, brake calipers stick, so the car pulls when braking and one wheel runs hot.

    At the viewing: Brake firmly and feel for pulling.

    Source: Haynes: Mazda MX-5 NC common problems (2005-2015)

  • Misfire with engine light

    Cars registered 2005–2014 · All engines

    A misfire under acceleration with the engine light on can be a faulty crankcase ventilation hose.

    At the viewing: Accelerate hard and watch for warning lights.

    Source: Haynes: Mazda MX-5 NC common problems (2005-2015)

  • Automatic downshifting by itself (built Oct 2016 to Nov 2018)

    Cars registered 2016–2018 · Automatic, built 2016 to 2018

    Automatics built 5 October 2016 to 22 November 2018 can change down without being asked. A software update fixes it.

    At the viewing: Ask for proof the update was done.

    Source: What Car?: used Mazda MX-5 (2015 on) reliability

  • Surging at idle

    Cars registered 2005–2014 · All engines

    A dirty throttle body makes it stutter or surge when slowing and at idle.

    At the viewing: Let it idle and listen for hunting revs.

    Source: Haynes: Mazda MX-5 NC common problems (2005-2015)

  • Under-shield bracket (built May to July 2015)

    Cars registered in 2015 · Built mid-2015

    A bracket holding the under-shield can fail on cars built 26 May to 6 July 2015.

    At the viewing: Ask a Mazda dealer whether it was replaced.

    Source: What Car?: used Mazda MX-5 (2015 on) reliability

Common Mazda MX-5 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 4.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014.

    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

    up to 4.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    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.

  • Rust in key structural areas

    up to 5.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

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

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Braking performance

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Handbrake performance

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

Mazda MX-5 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Mazda MX-5 did best (79% passed first time, 15 points above all 2012 cars) and the 2022 did worst (94%, 5 points above all 2022 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202294%89% +51,398
202194%87% +72,877
202094%87% +73,166
201992%85% +711,869
201890%83% +712,548
201790%80% +1013,458
201687%77% +1012,126
201586%74% +128,744
201482%70% +128,382
201380%67% +139,120
201279%64% +159,154
201176%62% +1410,046
201074%60% +1413,788
200972%59% +1312,328
200870%57% +1315,874
200770%57% +1322,547
200666%56% +1018,721
200564%57% +79,691
200464%57% +79,510
200363%57% +612,039
200265%58% +79,388
200166%60% +65,763
200063%61% +28,057
199964%63% +18,073
199867%65% +27,565
199767%65% +25,451
199666%66% +03,488
199566%67% -12,248
199468%67% +11,402
199367%68% -11,466
199266%69% -31,546
199167%71% -42,162
199069%72% -31,945

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mazda MX-5

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

  1. Has the i-ELOOP recall been done?
  2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 4.1× as often on the Mazda MX-5 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 4.9× as often on the Mazda MX-5 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the rust in key structural areas? (Flagged at MOT 5.4× as often on the Mazda MX-5 as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mazda MX-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