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Mazda 2, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls

140,038 Mazda 2s are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 69.7% of initial MOT tests, 2.6 points below the 72.3% UK average.

Looking at a specific Mazda 2? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.

Mazda 2 at the MOT

69.7% of 127,537 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the Mazda 2 352nd of 575 models. Mazda 2s aged 3 to 5 years passed 89.8% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 57.4%.

First-time pass rate, 2025

Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.

  • Mazda 269.7%
  • All Mazda modelsThe Mazda 2 is 3 pts behind72.7%
  • All cars72.3%

Pass rate by age at test

Mazda 2 tests in 2025.

  • 3 to 5 years14,646 tests89.8%
  • 6 to 10 years42,789 tests79.2%
  • 11 years and over65,414 tests57.4%

Where Mazda 2s fail

Share of all failure items recorded on Mazda 2 tests in 2025.

  • Suspension26%
  • Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment25.9%
  • Tyres11.5%
  • Brakes11%
  • Visibility10%

The items testers recorded most often were ball joint excessively worn (8.5%), position lamp not working (6.2%) and coil spring fractured or broken (6.2%).

The MOT page lists every common Mazda 2 MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.

Full Mazda 2 MOT record

What to look at on a viewing

The Mazda 2's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.

  1. Suspension

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for leaking shock absorbers and split rubber gaiters.26% of Mazda 2 failure items

  2. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

    Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.25.9% of Mazda 2 failure items

  3. Tyres

    Check tread depth across the full width of every tyre (the legal minimum is 1.6mm), and look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear.11.5% of Mazda 2 failure items

Mazda 2s in the UK

140,038 were licensed at the end of June 2026, more than any other Mazda. The number licensed has grown 40% since the end of 2014.

Change since 2014
+40%from 99,691 licensed
Typical year of first use
2015half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2015 or earlier
First registered in 2025
4,141against 10,565 in 2016
Declared off the road
4,6603.2% of those registered, under SORN

Licensed Mazda 2s since 2014

Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.

Show the figures
DateLicensed
End of 201499,691
End of 2015108,623
End of 2016117,684
End of 2017123,161
End of 2018128,010
End of 2019133,455
End of 2020134,002
End of 2021134,790
End of 2022136,815
End of 2023139,067
End of 2024141,785
End of 2025140,398
End of June 2026140,038

How old they are

Licensed Mazda 2s by year of first use.

  • Licensed at the end of 2025
  • First registered that year

A further 1,597 were first used before 2006.

Show the figures
First usedLicensed, end 2025First registered that year
20254,0144,141
20247,3757,684
20235,8656,117
20225,0345,325
20213,6173,714
20204,0934,202
20198,2788,589
20188,0148,364
20177,6057,982
20169,91210,565
20159,73410,455
20148,236
20138,292
20128,445
20119,835
201010,884
200910,267
20086,161
20072,064
2006895

9,734 Mazda 2s first used in 2015 were still licensed at the end of 2025, roughly 93% of the 10,455 first registered that year.

Mazda 2 engines and fuel

1.5 litre engines made up 53% of Mazda 2 MOT tests in 2025, followed by 1.3 litre at 42%. Petrol accounts for 90% of licensed Mazda 2s and hybrid electric for 8.5%.

Engine size at MOT, 2025

Share of 127,529 initial MOT tests in 2025.

  • 1.5 litre52.7%
  • 1.3 litre42.4%
  • 1.4 litre4.1%

Fuel type, licensed Mazda 2s

DfT licensing statistics, June 2026.

FuelLicensedShare
Petrol125,89490%
Diesel2,1992%
Hybrid electric11,9399%
Gas6<0.1%

Mazda 2 recalls

11 DVSA safety recalls launched from 2010 to July 2026 name the Mazda 2. The 8 most recent are below. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every Mazda 2 is affected.

  1. Oct 2025 R/2025/316

    Mazda2 Hybrid - Combination Meter Reprogramming

    Mazda 2s built Aug 2023 to Feb 2025 · 543 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On affected vehicles improper programming of the combination meter display may cause the display to become inoperable and remain blank. This prevents the speedometer from being visible.
    Remedy
    Reprogramming of the combination meter with modified software. However if the issue is already present replace the combination meter.

  2. Jan 2022 R/2021/435

    Low pressure fuel pump impeller might become deformed

    Mazda 2s built Oct 2017 to Oct 2018 · 26,974 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The impeller in the low-pressure fuel pump may become deformed causing fuel pump failure.
    Remedy
    Replace the low-pressure fuel pump with an improved part.

  3. Nov 2018 R/2018/319

    Takata passenger airbag inflators may not operate as intended

    Mazda 2s built Jul 2007 to Nov 2014 · 89,746 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Passenger airbag inflators may not operate as intended.
    Remedy
    Replacement of Airbag Assembly on affected vehicles.

  4. Oct 2018 R/2018/256

    Vehicles may be fitted with an incorrect purge valve bracket

    Mazda 2s built Jan 2018 to May 2018 · 1,362 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Subject vehicles may be fitted with an incorrect purge valve bracket.
    Remedy
    Subject vehicles will be checked. If the incorrect part has been installed the part needs to be replaced. If there is any evidence of fouling between components the fuel pipe will also be replaced.

  5. Apr 2018 R/2018/087

    Software error can cause engine to fail

    Mazda 2s built Apr 2015 to Nov 2017 · 4,858 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On the subject vehicles the engine protection logic does not work properly. When the engine speed reaches maximum with no engine load present the software is unable to cut the engine. This could in extreme cases cause catastrophic engine failure. Immediate and catastrophic engine damage may result.
    Remedy
    Re-program the engine protection software within the PCM.

  6. Jan 2018 R/2018/017

    Handbrake may disengage unexpectedly

    Mazda 2s built Apr 2016 to Apr 2017 · 8,081 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On the subject vehicles the tolerances of the teeth on the handbrake sector gear are outside Mazda Corporations design secifications. This reduces engagement between the handbrake sector gear and the ratchet pawl and can cause the handbrake to disengage unexpectedly. This could cause the parking brake to release unintentionally and the vehicle to move unexpectedly.
    Remedy
    Replacement of Handbrake lever mechanism.

  7. Jul 2017 R/2017/203

    Brake hose retaining clip may fail

    Mazda 2s built May 2016 · 650 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Surface finishing of brake hose retaining clip may be insufficient causing possibility of corrosion and failure of clip.
    Remedy
    Replace brake hose clips with modified ones

  8. May 2017 R/2017/150

    Mounting points for seat runner may fail

    Mazda 2s built Jun 2007 to Sep 2010 · 95,172 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    One or more of the mounting points between the runner and the driver's seat may fail.
    Remedy
    On affected vehicles inspect the driver's seat frame to determine if seat lifter links are damaged. If no damage is evident fit reinforcement brackets and push nuts. If damage is present to the seat lifter link replace seat frame. If damage is restricted to stabilizer bar then the bar will be repaired plus brackets and push nuts fitted.
How to check a specific Mazda 2 for recalls

Other Mazda models

The most-tested Mazda models in 2025, against the Mazda 2's 69.7% MOT pass rate.

All 11 Mazda models

Mazda 2 FAQs

How many Mazda 2s are there in the UK?

140,038 Mazda 2s were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 4,660 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.

Is the Mazda 2 reliable?

MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is a 69.7% first-time pass rate for the Mazda 2 across 127,537 tests in 2025, below the 72.3% average for all cars.

Has the Mazda 2 had any recalls?

11 DVSA safety recalls launched from 2010 to July 2026 name the Mazda 2. The most recent was published in October 2025. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.

What should I check before buying a used Mazda 2?

On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: suspension, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and tyres. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.

How do I check a Mazda 2's history?

Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.

Already found a Mazda 2?

Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.

Across the 1,389 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Mazda history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the Mazda VIN check.

  • Outstanding finance
  • Write-off records
  • Stolen markers
  • Mileage history
  • Previous keepers

MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to July 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.