CarVerify

Free Car Check

J253 BAR

1999 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 May 2027
Tests19 (12 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate63.2%

Mileage

151,568 mi
Last recorded151,568 miles
Recorded on11 May 2026
Typical for 1999 Mazda MX-582,499 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

RegistrationJ253 BAR
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1999
ColourSilver
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

12 pass 7 fail
Pass 11 May 2026 151,568 miles
Pass 20 May 2025 151,300 miles
Pass 20 May 2024 146,886 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2022 144,674 miles
Pass 2 Nov 2020 142,012 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 2 Nov 2020 142,012 miles

Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 14 Jul 2017 141,640 miles
Fail 14 Jul 2017 141,640 miles

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

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

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

Pass 5 Apr 2012 137,668 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2012 137,663 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 25 Aug 2010 135,487 miles

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

Pass 26 Jun 2009 133,856 miles
Fail 23 Jun 2009 133,856 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Pass 27 Jun 2008 133,085 miles
Fail 26 Jun 2008 133,085 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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

Pass 23 May 2007 121,257 miles
Fail 17 May 2007 120,586 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp does not emit a steady red light (1.3.2e)

Pass 6 Jun 2006 106,072 miles
Fail 4 Jun 2006 106,011 miles

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

J253 BAR is a 1999 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.2%.

Across all 1999 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.8% with a typical mileage of 82,499 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 J253 BAR, 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 27 years old, this Mazda MX-5 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J253 BAR?

You can check the full history of J253 BAR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J253 BAR registered?

J253 BAR is a 1999 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 April 1999.

Is J253 BAR safe to buy?

The MOT history for J253 BAR shows 19 tests with a 63.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J253 BAR 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 J253 BAR. 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.