Mazda
RX 8
5,390 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where RX 8s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 4.9 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
72.6%
Pass-after-fix
3.7%
Fail
22.3%
Avg miles
66,343
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Rx-8: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 4,055 MOT tests, the Rx-8 returns 71.7% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a defective headlamp lens. The strength or continuity of the load bearing and the engine warning light staying lit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 65,489, 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 26–36
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 →
26–36
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 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
185 occurrences · 3.4% of tests
- 02
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
179 occurrences · 3.3% of tests
- 03
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
130 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 04
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
130 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 05
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
129 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 06
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
117 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 07
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
113 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 08
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
107 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 09
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
100 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 10
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
99 occurrences · 1.8% 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 2 failures
£18–£115
If every one of this RX 8'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
4 UK recalls on record.
The RX 8 has 4 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping an RX 8?
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 an RX 8 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.