Know Your MOT
45.1%fail rate

Mazda 323 Gti common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Mazda 323 Gti fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 574 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 45.1% of MOT tests recorded on the Mazda 323 Gti in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is brakes, which makes up 54.4% of the Mazda 323 Gti's failures, followed by brakes, suspension, lamps & electrical, exhaust & emissions. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Brakes54.4% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Suspension45.9% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Lamps & electrical43.2% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Exhaust & emissions30.5% of failures

Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.

Other27.4% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Tyres19.3% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the brakes failure: Mazda 323 Gti brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Mazda 323 Gti brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Mazda 323 Gti brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Mazda 323 Gti suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Mazda 323 Gti suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Mazda 323 Gti suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Mazda 323 Gti headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Mazda 323 Gti headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Mazda 323 Gti headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Mazda 323 Gti exhaustSearch Amazon for Mazda 323 Gti exhaustaffiliate searchFind Mazda 323 Gti exhaust on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Mazda 323 Gti tyresSearch Amazon for Mazda 323 Gti tyresaffiliate searchFind Mazda 323 Gti tyres on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Mazda Mx-5 MOT failures23.4% failure rateMazda 3 MOT failures22.4% failure rateMazda 2 MOT failures21.4% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain