The picture
Cx-3: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 27,456 MOT tests, the Cx-3 returns 87.7% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a defective wiper blade. Windscreen damage and a seriously damaged tyre round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 37,826, 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.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Wiper blade defective
550 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
482 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 03
A tyre seriously damaged
462 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 04
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
440 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 05
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
416 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 06
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
308 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 07
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
282 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 08
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
239 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 09
Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended
221 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 10
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
182 occurrences · 0.7% 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
£120–£250
If every one of this CX 3'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.
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
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a CX 3?
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 3 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.