Mazda 3 Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Mazda 3 vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 79% MOT pass rate
  • 1,550 3s checked

Mazda 3 reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Mazda 3 history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Mazda 3 car check:

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a 3 by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Mazda 3 MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 1,450 Mazda 3 vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 79%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 6,900typical miles a year
  • 3.2%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 18,181MOT tests analysed
  • 2009–2015built (middle half)
  • 80%petrol; 20% diesel

Mazda 3 common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Mazda 3, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the 3's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 18 Mazda 3 MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Position lamp not working2.5%
  2. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
  3. Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn2.0%
  4. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
  5. Coil spring fractured or broken1.8%
  6. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1.5%
  7. Stop lamp not working1.2%
  8. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.0%
  9. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.9%
  10. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.9%
Show all 18
  1. Headlamp aim too low0.9%
  2. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.7%
  3. Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak0.7%
  4. Headlamp aim too high0.6%
  5. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.6%
  6. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn0.6%
  7. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.6%
  8. Parking brake efficiency below requirements0.5%

Top 20 Mazda 3 MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Brake pad wearing thin8.6%
  2. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge8.1%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.4%
  4. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.2%
  5. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened3.4%
  6. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing3.4%
  7. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play3.1%
  8. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.6%
  9. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.9%
  10. Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened1.8%
Show all 20
  1. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.8%
  2. Oil leak, but not excessive1.8%
  3. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.7%
  4. Suspension arm ball joint has slight play1.4%
  5. Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement1.2%
  6. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil1.2%
  7. Nail in tyre1.2%
  8. Coil spring corroded1.2%
  9. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material1.1%
  10. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view0.8%
  • Lights and indicators: 37% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 37% of failed tests
  • Tyres: 23% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 19% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 14% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 26% of tests
  • Brakes advisory: 20% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 19% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 1,450 Mazda 3 vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since April 2023 (18,181 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Mazda 3 versions

Every Mazda 3 version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "3" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
3 (no version recorded) 1,442 79% Lights and indicators

Key history checks before buying a used Mazda 3

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Mazda on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the 3. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Mazda 3

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Mazda 3 car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Mazda 3 you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a 3 by reg → See a sample report

Mazda 3 MOT questions

Is a Mazda 3 car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Mazda 3 are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Mazda 3?

Position lamp not working: found at 2.5% of the Mazda 3 MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 37% of failed tests.

What is the Mazda 3 MOT pass rate?

79% of 18,181 MOT tests on 1,450 Mazda 3 vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Mazda 3?

Going by its MOT records, the Mazda 3's most common failures are position lamp not working (2.5% of tests); tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.2% of tests); suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (2.0% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Mazda 3?

Brake pad wearing thin: noted at 8.6% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Mazda 3 typically driven?

About 6,900 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 3.2% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Mazda car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Mazda 3