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Mazda Friendee Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mazda Friendee car check

Is the Mazda Friendee reliable? We analysed 5,537 real MOT tests across 311 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,537 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.1%
Typical Mileage
130,174mi
Annual Mileage
4,831mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Mazda Friendee is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and fog lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mazda Friendee.

Mazda Friendee Number Plates

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

Mazda Friendee MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

75.2%
2014
70.1%
2013
69.8%
2012
66.7%
2011
66.2%
2010
65.5%
2009
64.8%
2008
63.8%
2007
71.7%
2006
67.9%
2005
64.2%
2004
74.1%
2003
71%
2002
68.3%
2001
69.1%
2000
68.4%
1999
68.2%
1998
66.5%
1997
65.7%
1996
64.3%
1995

Mazda Friendee Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 180
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 165
fog lamp not working 154
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 107
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 92
position lamp(s) not working 86
Stop lamp not working 82
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 79
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint 73
Registration plate lamp not working 70

Mazda Friendee Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,288 mi/yr
Typical
4,831 mi/yr
Average
6,154 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,639 mi/yr

Mazda Friendee MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2014 109 75.2% 103,477 131,161 156,901
2013 147 70.1% 81,231 122,463 145,255
2012 126 69.8% 105,053 145,064 173,736
2011 219 66.7% 109,838 147,491 178,416
2010 393 66.2% 88,686 113,961 152,981
2009 226 65.5% 101,974 134,566 159,658
2008 338 64.8% 105,472 133,536 182,820
2007 414 63.8% 98,629 139,324 176,830
2006 459 71.7% 100,098 143,912 182,665
2005 521 67.9% 88,718 115,115 150,556
2004 218 64.2% 111,309 141,743 167,157
2003 108 74.1% 77,469 92,824 108,410
2002 124 71.0% 100,186 128,436 159,685
2001 82 68.3% 128,591 168,194 195,532
2000 55 69.1% 92,916 115,772 130,324
1999 152 68.4% 122,321 148,124 169,108
1998 239 68.2% 89,724 125,986 152,937
1997 385 66.5% 87,642 108,128 135,364
1996 642 65.7% 111,812 143,079 182,865
1995 490 64.3% 102,381 127,542 167,697

How Long Does a Mazda Friendee Last?

Based on 311 Mazda Friendee vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.1 years
Median
17.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Mazda Friendee Mileage Distribution

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

Median
130,174 mi
75th Percentile
165,825 mi
95th Percentile
228,536 mi
Max Recorded
993,788 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mazda Friendee

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

Best year
2014

75.2% MOT pass rate from 109 tests

Year to avoid
2007

63.8% MOT pass rate from 414 tests

The best year to buy a used Mazda Friendee is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.2% across 109 tests. The 2007 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mazda Friendee Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mazda Friendee THIS CAR 67.1% 5,537 130,174 mi 31 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
Suzuki Gsf 650 Sa K7 85% 2,824 16,752 mi 19 yrs

Compared to the Mazda MX-5 (76.5% pass rate) and the Mazda 3 (77.5% pass rate), the Mazda Friendee trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mazda Friendee?

The Mazda Friendee has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.1% across 5,537 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Mazda Friendee are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (180 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (165), and fog lamp not working (154). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Mazda Friendee owner drives around 4,831 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.

In terms of longevity, most Mazda Friendee models stay on UK roads for around 31 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

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 Friendee — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mazda Friendee reliable?
Based on 5,537 MOT tests, the Mazda Friendee has a 67.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Mazda Friendee?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and fog lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mazda Friendee do per year?
The typical Mazda Friendee does around 4,831 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mazda Friendee last?
Most Mazda Friendee models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 311 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mazda Friendee?
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 Friendee?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mazda Friendee is 2014 with a 75.2% pass rate across 109 tests.