CarVerify

Free Car Check

E12 NOS

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1597cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Aug 2026
Tests26 (16 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

221,083 mi
Last recorded221,083 miles
Recorded on21 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
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationE12 NOS
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,597cc

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

16 pass 10 fail
Pass 21 Aug 2025 221,083 miles

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 9 Aug 2025 221,009 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Side repeater not working and was insecure (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 27 Mar 2020 217,976 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect slightly weak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect slightly weak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer and inner sill corrosion (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis rail corroded at front (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside outer and inner sills corroded

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear brake pipe beside front subframe corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect slightly weak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front lower wing mounting corroded

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect slightly weak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside inner sill corroded at rear also outer of sill bubbling under paint

all dustcovers on all 4 shocks split and ripped

car underbody surface corrosion in places

Fail 21 Mar 2020 217,945 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt completely split in half (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect slightly weak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect slightly weak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer and inner sill corrosion (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis rail corroded at front (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside outer and inner sills corroded

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear brake pipe beside front subframe corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect slightly weak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front lower wing mounting corroded

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect slightly weak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside inner sill corroded at rear also outer of sill bubbling under paint

all dustcovers on all 4 shocks split and ripped

car underbody surface corrosion in places

Pass 12 Dec 2018 212,324 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Upper Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Fail 8 Dec 2018 212,287 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Front Registration plate insecure (0.1 (a))

Nearside Front Upper Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Upper Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Pass 29 Aug 2017 205,926 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 25 Aug 2017 205,926 miles

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

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1)

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 15 Sep 2016 204,213 miles

Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides of chassis (2.4.A.3)

rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread both (6.3.1d)

Pass 21 Oct 2015 199,636 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear front section (3.6.B.2c)

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

Pass 24 Oct 2014 195,604 miles

front to rear brake pipes corroding

front to rear fuel pipes corroding

Pass 2 Oct 2013 186,911 miles

Oil leak

Pass 2 Oct 2012 181,502 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2012 181,502 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 26 Sep 2011 174,721 miles
Fail 22 Sep 2011 174,613 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 23 Sep 2010 166,093 miles
Fail 22 Sep 2010 166,507 miles

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Pass 26 Sep 2009 157,631 miles
Fail 19 Sep 2009 157,418 miles

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

Pass 13 Sep 2008 149,422 miles

Baffles loose in rear exhaust box.

Front screen chips = n/s = within limits. + o/s top poss failure very soon.

Front wipers not fully clearing

N/s/rear no.plate lamp intermittant lighting

O/s/front bump stop adrift.

Pass 11 Sep 2007 143,150 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front Upper Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

front number plate location just in limits

under front car not fully cecked cover fitted

n/s/front brake sliht binding efforts o/k

Pass 19 Sep 2006 141,016 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Fail 18 Sep 2006 141,016 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Fail 3 Aug 2005 138,193 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Parking brake is not capable of being maintained in operation by direct mechanical action only (3.1.2)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 3 Aug 2005 138,193 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

E12 NOS is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

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 E12 NOS, 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 E12 NOS?

You can check the full history of E12 NOS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E12 NOS registered?

E12 NOS is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 15 August 1997.

Is E12 NOS safe to buy?

The MOT history for E12 NOS shows 26 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E12 NOS 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 E12 NOS. 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.