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J271 NLN

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Feb 2027
Tests23 (17 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate73.9%

Mileage

191,308 mi
Last recorded191,308 miles
Recorded on19 Feb 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ271 NLN
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

17 pass 6 fail
Pass 19 Feb 2026 191,308 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2025 188,979 miles

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

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

Pass 1 Feb 2024 188,936 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2023 188,636 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 3 Feb 2022 188,124 miles
Fail 1 Feb 2022 188,112 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 15 Feb 2021 187,060 miles
Fail 12 Feb 2021 187,060 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 24 Feb 2020 186,792 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Fail 24 Feb 2020 186,792 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 4 Feb 2019 182,307 miles
Pass 19 Feb 2018 179,158 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2016 178,856 miles
Fail 4 Nov 2013 178,617 miles

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 4 Nov 2013 178,617 miles

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

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

Pass 9 Nov 2012 176,015 miles

Nearside Ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 11 Nov 2011 172,775 miles
Pass 16 Apr 2010 170,799 miles
Pass 5 Feb 2009 170,025 miles
Fail 5 Feb 2009 170,025 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 1 Feb 2008 166,413 miles
Pass 27 Sep 2006 155,563 miles
Fail 27 Sep 2006 155,563 miles

Offside Front Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1)

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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J271 NLN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.9%.

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 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 J271 NLN, 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 J271 NLN?

You can check the full history of J271 NLN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J271 NLN registered?

J271 NLN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 3 October 1997.

Is J271 NLN safe to buy?

The MOT history for J271 NLN shows 23 tests with a 73.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J271 NLN 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 J271 NLN. 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.