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MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Mazda CX-5 reliability: what the MOT shows

72,338 CX-5s had an MOT in 2025. 80.4% passed first time, against 78.0% for other cars of the same age and mileage. That is 2.4 points better than comparable cars. Those registered from 2021 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

80.4%passed first time

+2.4points against cars of the same age and mileage

2.4×as many steering failures as comparable cars

Report card

Mazda CX-5 MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often CX-5s of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse

Year	Passed first time	Against same age and mileage	MOTs
2012	62.7%	+1.2	1,318
2013	65.3%	+1.7	4,794
2014	68.3%	+1.7	6,533
2015	71.9%	+1.8	6,840
2016	74.7%	+1.2	6,997
2017	81.4%	+4.2	7,262
2018	84.7%	+4.3	10,098
2019	86.9%	+3.5	10,119
2020	87.9%	+1.7	5,646
2021	88.3%	+0.6	5,483
2022	90.4%	+1.5	7,247

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Mazda CX-5 years to avoid, going by the MOT

Level2012+1.2 ptsMost common failure: track rod end (ball joint has excessive play). 1,318 MOTs.

Ahead2013 to 2015+1.7 to +1.8 ptsMost common failure in every one of these years: track rod end (ball joint has excessive play). 18,167 MOTs.

Level2016+1.2 ptsMost common failure: coil spring (fractured or broken). 6,997 MOTs.

Ahead2017 to 2020+1.7 to +4.3 ptsMost common failures: brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) in 2017, 2018 and 2019; wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) in 2020. 33,125 MOTs.

Level2021 to 2022+0.6 to +1.5 ptsMost common failures: wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) in 2021; headlamp aim (too high) in 2022. 12,730 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Mazda CX-5 common faults at the MOT

3.1% of CX-5 MOTs failed on steering, against 1.3% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 6.5% on suspension, against 5.6%.

Most common failures

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.8%

Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.7%

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.8%

Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.6%

Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.5%

Ball joint excessively worn1.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.0%

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.1%

Headlamp aim: too high1.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.7%

CX-5Same age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.5×2.39% of CX-5 MOTs (1,728) against 0.69% for cars of the same age and mileage

Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.0×0.36% of CX-5 MOTs (263) against 0.18% for cars of the same age and mileage

On or after 01/01/2014: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit2.0×0.21% of CX-5 MOTs (150) against 0.11% for cars of the same age and mileage

Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7×0.63% of CX-5 MOTs (456) against 0.37% for cars of the same age and mileage

Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5×0.22% of CX-5 MOTs (160) against 0.15% for cars of the same age and mileage

Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn1.5×0.48% of CX-5 MOTs (347) against 0.33% for cars of the same age and mileage

Mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage

Against cars of the same age and mileage, in points: Under 30k: +0.4, 30–60k: +3.2, 60–90k: +3.4, 90–120k: +2.1, 120k+: −0.7.

CX-5, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid CX-5

Diesels passed 76.0% first time, 2.6 points above comparable cars; petrols passed 85.3%, 2.2 points above comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 76,715 miles at the test, against 40,421 for petrols.

Fuel	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)	Median miles
Diesel	37,971	76.0%	73.4%	+2.6	76,715
Petrol	34,366	85.3%	83.1%	+2.2	40,421

Against rivals

CX-5 against other family SUVs

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The CX-5 ranks 8 of 17.

Model	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)
1. Honda CR-V	83,797	86.1%	76.6%	+9.5
2. Toyota RAV4	65,682	86.4%	80.2%	+6.2
3. Seat Ateca	46,430	87.5%	82.2%	+5.2
4. VW Tiguan	192,059	84.2%	79.0%	+5.2
5. Skoda Kodiaq	36,473	86.7%	82.0%	+4.7
6. Skoda Karoq	51,965	88.4%	84.3%	+4.0
7. Ford Kuga	237,391	81.3%	78.3%	+3.0
8. Mazda CX-5	58,978	80.8%	78.2%	+2.6
9. MG HS	11,447	89.2%	87.3%	+1.9
10. Hyundai Tucson	135,299	82.4%	81.0%	+1.3
11. Kia Sportage	224,667	79.1%	78.7%	+0.4
12. Vauxhall Grandland	67,355	83.2%	84.2%	−1.1
13. Nissan Qashqai	375,647	76.2%	77.8%	−1.5
14. Nissan X-Trail	65,456	74.4%	76.5%	−2.2
15. Peugeot 3008	98,935	76.8%	80.0%	−3.2
16. Renault Kadjar	68,595	73.5%	79.3%	−5.8
17. Dacia Duster	64,885	69.8%	80.5%	−10.7

Check these before you buy a used CX-5

What testers most often noted as advisories on CX-5s in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge13% (16%)
Brake pads: wearing thin12% (8%)
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened9% (8%)
Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing8% (8%)
Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement6% (4%)
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material3% (1%)
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively3% (3%)
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened3% (1%)

Questions about CX-5 reliability

Is the Mazda CX-5 reliable?

At the MOT, 80.4% of 72,338 CX-5 MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 78.0% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2012: level (+1.2 points). 2013 to 2015: ahead (+1.7 to +1.8 points). 2016: level (+1.2 points). 2017 to 2020: ahead (+1.7 to +4.3 points). 2021 to 2022: level (+0.6 to +1.5 points).

Which Mazda CX-5 years should I avoid?

None stand out: every registration year is within 1.5 points of cars of the same age and mileage, or ahead of them.

What is the most common MOT failure on a CX-5?

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick: 2.6% of CX-5 MOTs, against 1.8% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol CX-5 more reliable?

Petrol CX-5s passed 85.3% first time and diesels 76.0%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 2.2 points above and diesels 2.6 points above.

Is the CX-5 more reliable than the Nissan Qashqai?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Nissan Qashqai passed 76.2% first time, −1.5 points against comparable cars. The CX-5 passed 80.8%, +2.6 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the CX-5's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Mazda CX-5: 34 recorded model names, from "CX-5" to trims such as "CX-5 SPORT".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.