MOT cost .
Mazda Bongo
MOT 2024

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Mazda

Bongo

19,244 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Bongos pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 12.7 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.

Pass

64.8%

Pass-after-fix

4.0%

Fail

29.9%

Avg miles

132,505

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

Trim variants

Friendee 72.0% 1,420

Performance by cohort

3 year bands · 19,244 tests

Pass rate climbs 10.5 points across the cohorts — newer Bongo examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.

Pre-2018 cohort 18,568

Pass

64.5%

Fail

30.2%

PRS

4.0%

Avg mileage at test

133,866 mi

2018–2020 cohort 576

Pass

72.4%

Fail

22.9%

PRS

4.3%

Avg mileage at test

95,075 mi

2021+ cohort 100

Pass

75.0%

Fail

24.0%

PRS

1.0%

Avg mileage at test

98,098 mi

Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.

The picture

Mazda Bongo: challenging MOT record across 12,934 tests

The Mazda Bongo , also known as Mazda E-Series, Eunos Cargo, and the Ford Econovan, is a cabover van and pickup truck manufactured by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Mazda since 1966. The Bongo name was also used for the Bongo Friendee, which is not a cabover design.

MOT data from 12,934 tests puts this car on a 64.1% first-time pass rate, well below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 133,382 miles. The most common fail item is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mountingis significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, followed by headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective.

I was thinking of having my 1998 2-litre petrol Mazda Bongo converted to LPG to save money. Is this one of my better ideas?.

The Bongo's pass rate warrants caution in the used market. Factor in likely first-test remedial work on the common failure items and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the specific items this car trips on most.

ABI Insurance Group

Group 12–30

Around the UK fleet average for insurance cost. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.

Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →

12–30

out of 50

Compare quotes →

Top ten reasons for rejection.

Filter failures:

  1. 01

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    2,581 occurrences · 13.4% of tests

  2. 02

    Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced

    1,047 occurrences · 5.4% of tests

  3. 03

    Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

    1,023 occurrences · 5.3% of tests

  4. 04

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

    787 occurrences · 4.1% of tests

  5. 05

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    739 occurrences · 3.8% of tests

  6. 06

    Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

    691 occurrences · 3.6% of tests

  7. 07

    An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

    641 occurrences · 3.3% of tests

  8. 08

    The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

    554 occurrences · 2.9% of tests

  9. 09

    Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated

    495 occurrences · 2.6% of tests

  10. 10

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    470 occurrences · 2.4% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£98–£355

If every one of this Bongo's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Year-band analysis

Best year to buy. Worst to avoid.

First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 7.9-point gap between bands means the year you buy Mazda Bongo has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.

Best band to buy

72.4%

2018–2020 registration

the 2018–2020 band climbs to 72.4% — a 7.9-point improvement. Tests in this band average 95,075 miles — roughly 39K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: lens slightly defective, ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.

Band to be cautious about

64.5%

Pre-2018 registration

On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 64.5% pass rate against a fleet average of 72.4% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced, and lens slightly defective. Average mileage on test for this band is 133,866 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.

Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (72.4% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (64.5% pass). That's a 7.9-point spread across 18,568 older tests and 576 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.

Year-spread leaderboard →

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

Headlight restoration kit

Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

My Motor World · affiliate

Parts & supplies for this fix

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Draper Drain Plug Key, 3/8 Square x 3/8 Sq. Dr.

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Autotek Mazda Arctic White 300ml

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Buying or keeping a Bongo?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Bongo and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.