Mazda
CX 7
2,702 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where CX 7s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 8.8 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
68.7%
Pass-after-fix
4.7%
Fail
25.6%
Avg miles
103,644
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered before September 2015 are typically pre-Euro 6 — subject to daily charges in London ULEZ (£12.50), Birmingham CAZ (£8), Bristol CAZ (£9), and Glasgow LEZ. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 · Bristol £9.00 .
The picture
Cx-7: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 2,159 MOT tests, the Cx-7 returns 67.5% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a worn steering ball joint. A defective headlamp lens and a number-plate lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 100,927, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 22–30
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. 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 →
22–30
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
170 occurrences · 6.3% of tests
- 02
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
166 occurrences · 6.1% of tests
- 03
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
155 occurrences · 5.7% of tests
- 04
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
128 occurrences · 4.7% of tests
- 05
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
114 occurrences · 4.2% of tests
- 06
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
95 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 07
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
71 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
- 08
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
64 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 09
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
53 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
50 occurrences · 1.9% 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 4 failures
£178–£595
If every one of this CX 7'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 →
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Build your own retest budget.
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
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Draper
Draper Drain Plug Key, 3/8 Square x 3/8 Sq. Dr.
£15.39
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Mazda Silver Stone Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Autotek
Autotek Mazda Arctic White 300ml
£14.29
View at My Motor World →
Autotek
Autotek Mazda Brilliant Black 300ml
£14.29
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
1 UK recall on record.
The CX 7 has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a CX 7?
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 CX 7 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.