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B8 MXX

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1600cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Aug 2026
Tests17 (12 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate70.6%

Mileage

181,906 mi
Last recorded181,906 miles
Recorded on22 Aug 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationB8 MXX
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,600cc

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

12 pass 5 fail
Pass 22 Aug 2025 181,906 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Jun 2024 176,657 miles
Fail 14 Jun 2024 176,657 miles

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp does not emit a steady red light (4.5.4 (a))

Fail 12 Jun 2024 176,519 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases center join (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Suspension rod ball joint has slight play both tie rods (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Apr 2021 175,310 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 17 Aug 2018 175,797 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded outer sill section (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 21 Aug 2017 165,979 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 19 Aug 2016 149,412 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front tyre is perished on sidewall

Nearside Rear Lower Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear tyre is perished on sidewall

Offside Front tyre is perished on sidewall

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear tyre is perished on sidewall

Pass 19 Aug 2015 141,392 miles
Pass 10 May 2011 136,017 miles
Pass 14 May 2010 127,903 miles

Front Upper Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Oil leak

Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

f/num plate cracked

Pass 16 May 2009 123,115 miles
Pass 20 Sep 2008 117,559 miles

Oil leak

Fail 20 Sep 2008 117,559 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

Oil leak

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Pass 14 Jul 2007 115,417 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2006 113,693 miles
Fail 11 Apr 2006 113,660 miles

Nearside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Rear registration plate has a feature which changes the appearance or legibility of the characters (6.3.4c)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

front brake pads low on wear

offside/nearside rear brake discs starting to corrode

oil leak engine

How Reliable is the Mazda MX-5?

Based on 2,502,760 MOT tests across 160,823 vehicles.

76.5%
Pass Rate
2,964
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
160,823
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 44,475
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 41,962
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 35,980
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 33,281
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 32,722
Full Mazda MX-5 reliability report

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B8 MXX is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.6%.

Across all 1997 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.7% with a typical mileage of 85,711 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 Mazda MX-5 fails its MOT is seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 44,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying B8 MXX, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda MX-5 typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 29 years old, this Mazda MX-5 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B8 MXX?

You can check the full history of B8 MXX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B8 MXX registered?

B8 MXX is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 14 October 1997.

Is B8 MXX safe to buy?

The MOT history for B8 MXX shows 17 tests with a 70.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B8 MXX 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 B8 MXX. 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.