CarVerify

Free Car Check

J161 JOU

1992 Mazda MX-5

Blue Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 May 2027
Tests21 (16 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate76.2%

Mileage

46,622 mi
Last recorded46,622 miles
Recorded on26 May 2026
Typical for 1992 Mazda MX-5116,364 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationJ161 JOU
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1992
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

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 5 fail
Pass 26 May 2026 46,622 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Fail 21 May 2026 46,622 miles

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases silencer holed (6.1.2 (a))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Pass 16 May 2025 44,320 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Apr 2024 44,059 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair (1.2.1 (c))

Pass 23 May 2023 43,966 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Pass 26 May 2022 43,693 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all four (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 8 Apr 2021 43,351 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all four (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 27 Apr 2019 42,782 miles

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all four (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

steering rack gaiters slightly cracked/perished

Fail 13 Apr 2019 42,775 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all four (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

steering rack gaiters slightly cracked/perished

Pass 23 May 2018 42,636 miles

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

both steering rack gaiters slightly deteriorated

Pass 3 Feb 2017 42,631 miles

Nearside front brake binding slightly.

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 27 Jan 2017 42,631 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside front brake binding slightly.

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 29 Mar 2016 42,218 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front wipers poor.

Fail 20 Apr 2015 41,460 miles

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 20 Apr 2015 41,460 miles
Fail 1 May 2014 39,798 miles

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 1 May 2014 39,798 miles

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

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

Pass 2 May 2013 36,998 miles
Pass 4 Oct 2010 36,956 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2008 36,926 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2006 36,798 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

J161 JOU is a 1992 Mazda MX-5 in Blue with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.2%.

Across all 1992 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.0% with a typical mileage of 116,364 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 J161 JOU, 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 34 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 J161 JOU?

You can check the full history of J161 JOU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J161 JOU registered?

J161 JOU is a 1992 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 January 1992.

Is J161 JOU safe to buy?

The MOT history for J161 JOU shows 21 tests with a 76.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J161 JOU 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 J161 JOU. 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.