2015 Mazda 2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 58,070 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Mazda 2, the most common recorded failure areas were seat belts & restraints, suspension and tyres. Its pass rate of 85.0% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (82.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.5% in the 150k+ group versus 11.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.7% | 2,718 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.3% | 2,488 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.2% | 2,460 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 2,319 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 1,817 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 1,551 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,794 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,535 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,052 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,052 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,017 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 982 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.3% | 14,684 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 10,712 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.4% | 4,892 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.2% | 3,613 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 2,066 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 1,082 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 11,446 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 28,636 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 14,160 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,207 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 509 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 106 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 56,611 | 15.0% |
| Diesel | 1,459 | 17.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,521 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 11,585 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 11,540 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 11,620 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 11,804 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 2
Before buying a 2015 Mazda 2, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Seat belts & restraints accounted for 4.7% of tests for this year.
- Seat belts & restraints (4.7% of tests): Belt damage or faulty pretensioners — usually straightforward but safety-critical. Typical repair: £50–£300.
- Suspension (4.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (4.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 Mazda 2s pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 58,070 2015 Mazda 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mazda 2?
Seat belts & restraints, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by suspension (4.3%).
Does the 2015 2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 58,070 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.