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Mazda 2 Se-l Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mazda 2 Se-l car check

Is the Mazda 2 Se-l reliable? We analysed 2,632 real MOT tests across 1,528 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,632 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
92.9%
Typical Mileage
24,264mi
Annual Mileage
5,197mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Mazda 2 Se-l is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mazda 2 Se-l.

Mazda 2 Se-l Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mazda 2 Se-l. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mazda 2 Se-l MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mazda 2 Se-l to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.7%
2023
92.3%
2022
91.8%
2021

Mazda 2 Se-l Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mazda 2 Se-l fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 5

Mazda 2 Se-l Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mazda 2 Se-l models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 14
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 7
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 7

Mazda 2 Se-l Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mazda 2 Se-l owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,269 mi/yr
Typical
5,197 mi/yr
Average
5,797 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,776 mi/yr

Mazda 2 Se-l MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mazda 2 Se-l year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 566 91.7% 13,676 19,098 26,397
2022 960 92.3% 12,417 18,956 26,579
2021 61 91.8% 14,480 21,512 28,626

How Long Does a Mazda 2 Se-l Last?

Based on 1,528 Mazda 2 Se-l vehicles on UK roads.

Average
2.3 years
Median
2.0 years

Mazda 2 Se-l Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mazda 2 Se-l MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
24,264 mi
75th Percentile
38,548 mi
95th Percentile
70,001 mi
Max Recorded
515,701 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mazda 2 Se-l

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

92.3% MOT pass rate from 960 tests

Year to avoid
2023

91.7% MOT pass rate from 566 tests

The best year to buy a used Mazda 2 Se-l is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.3% across 960 tests. The 2023 model year has the lowest pass rate at 91.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mazda 2 Se-l Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mazda 2 Se-l THIS CAR 92.9% 2,632 24,264 mi — yrs
Mazda MX-5 76.5% 2,502,760 63,190 mi 36 yrs
Mazda 3 77.5% 2,040,939 61,041 mi 22 yrs
Mazda 6 75.4% 1,904,140 77,387 mi 24 yrs
Honda 125 80.4% 1,276 16,656 mi 31 yrs

Compared to the Mazda MX-5 (76.5% pass rate) and the Mazda 3 (77.5% pass rate), the Mazda 2 Se-l outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Mazda 2 Se-l you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Mazda 2 Se-l?

The Mazda 2 Se-l has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.9% across 2,632 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords with 5 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mazda 2 Se-l with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Mazda 2 Se-l owner drives around 5,197 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mazda 2 Se-l — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mazda 2 Se-l reliable?
Based on 2,632 MOT tests, the Mazda 2 Se-l has a 92.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mazda 2 Se-l?
The most common failure point is tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords.
How many miles does a Mazda 2 Se-l do per year?
The typical Mazda 2 Se-l does around 5,197 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mazda 2 Se-l last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mazda 2 Se-l?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mazda 2 Se-l?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mazda 2 Se-l is 2022 with a 92.3% pass rate across 960 tests.