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C3 ARO

1996 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Sep 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

115,903 mi
Last recorded115,903 miles
Recorded on29 Aug 2025
Typical for 1996 Mazda MX-586,097 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationC3 ARO
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1996
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,840cc

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

20 pass 9 fail
Pass 29 Aug 2025 115,903 miles

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Sep 2024 115,138 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2023 113,299 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2023 113,299 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement all (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Jul 2022 112,104 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2021 111,006 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2020 109,423 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2019 108,227 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2018 107,200 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2017 160,521 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2016 105,682 miles
Fail 3 Jun 2016 105,682 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Pass 6 Jun 2015 105,002 miles
Fail 2 Jun 2015 105,002 miles

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 4 Jun 2014 103,934 miles
Pass 1 Jun 2013 100,720 miles
Fail 17 May 2013 100,720 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Rear Fuel hose leaking (7.2.3)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 22 May 2012 98,288 miles

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

Fail 21 May 2012 98,288 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Fail 19 May 2011 96,156 miles

Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Pass 19 May 2011 96,156 miles
Fail 18 May 2011 96,149 miles

Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Fail 16 May 2011 96,143 miles

Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

exhaust clamp

Pass 24 Feb 2010 95,677 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 23 Feb 2009 92,073 miles
Pass 28 Feb 2008 86,916 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2008 86,916 miles

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

Pass 17 Feb 2007 76,637 miles

o/s/f tyre underinflated.o/s/f brake slightly hard to turn.

Pass 7 Feb 2006 63,711 miles

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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C3 ARO is a 1996 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

Across all 1996 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.8% with a typical mileage of 86,097 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 C3 ARO, 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 30 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 C3 ARO?

You can check the full history of C3 ARO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C3 ARO registered?

C3 ARO is a 1996 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 19 September 1996.

Is C3 ARO safe to buy?

The MOT history for C3 ARO shows 29 tests with a 69% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C3 ARO 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 C3 ARO. 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.