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A397 MHJ

1983 Ford Capri

Blue Petrol 2792cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Aug 2027
Tests23 (15 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate65.2%

Mileage

49,503 mi
Last recorded49,503 miles
Recorded on31 Jul 2026
Typical for 1983 Ford Capri55,621 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Ford
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA397 MHJ
MakeFord
ModelCapri
Year1983
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,792cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

15 pass 8 fail
Pass 31 Jul 2026 49,503 miles
Fail 31 Jul 2026 49,503 miles

Nearside Front Fuel system component leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 16 Jul 2025 47,285 miles

Front Lower Oil leak, but not excessive around gearbox area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Aug 2024 46,430 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2020 46,024 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2019 44,959 miles
Fail 8 Jul 2019 44,948 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Speedometer cannot be illuminated (7.8 (c) (ii))

Pass 2 Aug 2017 43,823 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Fail 31 Jul 2017 43,819 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 27 Jun 2014 43,791 miles
Fail 26 Jun 2014 43,791 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Pass 10 Jul 2013 41,565 miles

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 11 Jul 2012 39,723 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2011 37,040 miles

Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

Fail 4 Jul 2011 37,040 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

Pass 10 Aug 2010 34,826 miles
Fail 2 Aug 2010 34,823 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Pass 10 Aug 2009 32,061 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2008 29,340 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2007 25,979 miles
Fail 6 Aug 2007 25,979 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 11 Aug 2006 23,325 miles
Fail 9 Aug 2006 23,325 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Torque/reaction arm has a deteriorated synthetic bush resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Torque/reaction arm has a deteriorated rubber bush resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

both dust covers split on track rod ends.

How Reliable is the Ford Capri?

Based on 101,843 MOT tests across 11,827 vehicles.

75.0%
Pass Rate
507
Miles/Year
57
Year Lifespan
11,827
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

brake binding 4,143
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 4,055
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 3,852
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 3,080
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 2,143
Full Ford Capri reliability report

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A397 MHJ is a 1983 Ford Capri in Blue with a 2,792cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.2%.

Across all 1983 Ford Capri models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.5% with a typical mileage of 55,621 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Ford Capri fails its MOT is brake binding, accounting for 4,143 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A397 MHJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Ford Capri typically stays on UK roads for around 57 years. At 43 years old, this Ford Capri is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A397 MHJ?

You can check the full history of A397 MHJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A397 MHJ registered?

A397 MHJ is a 1983 Ford Capri, first registered on 1 August 1983.

Is A397 MHJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for A397 MHJ shows 23 tests with a 65.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A397 MHJ have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on A397 MHJ. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.