Mazda B Series

Registered from 1998 to 2006.

Photo: Rudolf Stricker · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

About this model

The Mazda B series is a series of pickup trucks that was manufactured by Mazda. Produced across five generations from 1961 to 2006, the model line began life primarily as a commercial vehicle, slotted above a kei truck in size. Through its production, Mazda used engine displacement to determine model designations; a B1500 was fitted with a 1.5 L engine and a B2600, a 2.6 L engine.

From the Wikipedia article Mazda B series, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 2005 2.5 diesel. 154 of 529 tests failed, 29%.

Better than 38% of 2005 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 837 models with enough tests behind them to say.

Where	Share of failures	Failed tests
Lights and electrics	57%	88
Body and structure	50%	77
Suspension	41%	63
Brakes	40%	62
Exhaust and emissions	12%	18
Visibility	12%	18

The defects inspectors cite

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
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
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

Where it stands out against its peers

Body and structure: failed more often than 96% of 2005 cars — 50% of its 154 failed tests, where an ordinary 2005 car has 22%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

Suspension — 41% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- 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
Brakes — 40% of its failures
Exhaust and emissions — 12% of its failures
Lights and electrics — 57% of its failures
- 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
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Body and structure — 50% of its failures
- 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
- Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced
Visibility — 12% of its failures

When it starts failing

At 160–180k miles this one fails 34% of its inspections, against the 30% an ordinary car of the same age fails.

Odometer	Rate	Its age	Tests
40–60k miles	18%	21%	40
60–80k miles	33%	26%	49
80–100k miles	29%	28%	101
100–120k miles	28%	29%	88
120–140k miles	32%	30%	76
140–160k miles	29%	30%	68
160–180k miles	34%	30%	41

463 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 100k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.