Know Your MOT
27.7%fail rate

Mazda Scrum common MOT failures and failure rate

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

Based on 83 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 27.7% of MOT tests recorded on the Mazda Scrum in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is lamps & electrical, which makes up 52.2% of the Mazda Scrum's failures, followed by lamps & electrical, exhaust & emissions, brakes, suspension. 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

Lamps & electrical52.2% 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 & emissions47.8% 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.

Brakes39.1% 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.

Suspension13.0% 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.

Steering13.0% of failures

Steering faults are typically worn track-rod ends or ball joints, play in the rack, or a split gaiter letting grease out and dirt in. Excessive free play at the wheel fails.

Other8.7% of failures

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

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 lamps & electrical failure: Mazda Scrum headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Mazda Scrum headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Mazda Scrum headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Mazda Scrum exhaustSearch Amazon for Mazda Scrum exhaustaffiliate searchFind Mazda Scrum exhaust on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Mazda Scrum brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Mazda Scrum brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Mazda Scrum brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Mazda Scrum suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Mazda Scrum suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Mazda Scrum suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Mazda Scrum steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Mazda Scrum steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Mazda Scrum steering track rod ends 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