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Mazda RX-8 SE3P (2003-2010) reliability

Not enough data

Mazda RX-8 SE3P built around 2010: not enough MOT data yet

We've only seen a handful of Mazda RX-8 SE3P models built around 2010 so far. Too few to spot a pattern yet.

Looking at a Mazda RX-8 SE3P?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

Check a car’s number plate to see its own MOT record, or come back when there’s more MOT history.

Mazda RX-8 SE3P
No reliability rating: not enough tests to rate2003-2010CoupePETROL

Based on 3,020 tests of RX-8 models registered 2003-2010.

SE3P fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
18222.0%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
34224.9%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
55028.2%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
63925.4%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
53727.4%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
38423.4%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
38628.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 21 years old.

How the RX-8 SE3P compares

At each age below, see how the RX-8 SE3P holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 41,079 tests across 8 Mazda models, built around 2010 (15 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateMazda average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
18222.0%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
34224.9%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
55028.2%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
63925.4%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
53727.4%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
38423.4%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
38628.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other coupes to compare

Other coupes, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the RX-8 SE3P.

  1. 1

    Porsche 911

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    8.8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    3.9%
    Dangerous
    2.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    94%

    Lower fail rate: 8.8%, against 22.0% for the Mazda RX-8 SE3P, both built around 2010.

    1,790 MOT tests on cars built around 2010

  2. 2

    Audi TT

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    22.7%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    5.8%
    Dangerous
    5.1%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.5%

    No clear edge over the Mazda RX-8 SE3P on these figures.

    7,970 MOT tests on cars built around 2010

  3. 3

    Audi A5

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    23.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    7.2%
    Dangerous
    7.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    87.6%

    No clear edge over the Mazda RX-8 SE3P on these figures.

    4 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    10,373 MOT tests on cars built around 2010

  4. 4

    Volkswagen Scirocco

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    29.3%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    8.9%
    Dangerous
    8.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    94.4%

    No clear edge over the Mazda RX-8 SE3P on these figures.

    7,365 MOT tests on cars built around 2010

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

9 recalls in all

8 of the 9 RX-8 SE3P recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 2 Critical
  • 6 more

Top concerns

  • Driver's front airbag may fail to deploy correctly
  • Fuel may leak
  • Possible fuel leak

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

How RX-8 SE3P cars have aged

How RX-8 SE3P cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

0%10%20%30%111315171921Age at MOTBuilt around 2010, 11 years old at the time of MOT: 19.7% (76 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2010, 12 years old at the time of MOT: 20.8% (77 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2010, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 21.8% (78 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2010, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 16.2% (68 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2010, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 27.0% (74 tests, 2025 data)2010Built around 2009, 12 years old at the time of MOT: 17.4% (276 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2009, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 20.3% (256 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2009, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 23.0% (243 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2009, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 25.3% (229 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2009, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 24.5% (192 tests, 2025 data)2009Built around 2008, 13 years old at the time of MOT: 23.4% (458 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2008, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 23.3% (408 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2008, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 26.7% (389 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2008, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 27.9% (340 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2008, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 28.2% (298 tests, 2025 data)2008Built around 2007, 14 years old at the time of MOT: 28.2% (738 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2007, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 26.7% (610 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2007, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 24.7% (527 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2007, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 27.1% (480 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2007, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 25.7% (374 tests, 2025 data)2007Built around 2006, 15 years old at the time of MOT: 28.5% (709 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2006, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 28.7% (592 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2006, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 28.8% (500 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2006, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 29.1% (412 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2006, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 29.3% (338 tests, 2025 data)2006Built around 2005, 16 years old at the time of MOT: 28.0% (429 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2005, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 27.9% (344 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2005, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 25.0% (268 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2005, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 29.9% (244 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2005, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 26.3% (186 tests, 2025 data)2005Built around 2004, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 26.5% (588 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2004, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 27.9% (462 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2004, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 26.7% (415 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2004, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 28.2% (344 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2004, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 28.1% (303 tests, 2025 data)2004
First registered around 2010First registered around 2009First registered around 2008First registered around 2007
All generations of this modelNot enough data

Most common issues on Mazda RX-8 models of this age

This list covers every Mazda RX-8 built around 2010, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the SE3P on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    11.0%
    Advisory: 35Fail: 1 (3% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    11.0%
    Advisory: 28Fail: 5 (15% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    9.9%
    Advisory: 19Fail: 3 (14% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    8.8%
    Advisory: 16Fail: 0 (0% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Suspension part corroded, but not seriously weakened

    8.2%
    Advisory: 30Fail: 0 (0% of the times it was found)

Based on 182 tests

Looking at a Mazda RX-8 SE3P?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2010 (15 years old), the Mazda RX-8 SE3P (2003-2010) fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. This is based on 182 15-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 3,020 MOT tests on Mazda RX-8 models first registered between 2003-2010. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.