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J297 JOU

1997 Mazda MX-5

Blue Petrol 1590cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires10 Nov 2025
Tests27 (17 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate63%

Mileage

141,600 mi
Last recorded141,600 miles
Recorded on11 Nov 2024
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

RegistrationJ297 JOU
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,590cc

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 10 fail
Pass 11 Nov 2024 141,600 miles

Handbrake lever has little reserve travel

Various brake pipes corroded

Various corrosion to chassis and suspension components

Fail 4 Nov 2024 141,589 miles

Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Handbrake lever has little reserve travel

Various brake pipes corroded

Various corrosion to chassis and suspension components

Pass 6 Nov 2023 139,152 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Various brake pipes corroded

Various corrosion to chassis and suspension components

Fail 13 Sep 2023 139,151 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Various brake pipes corroded

Various corrosion to chassis sills and suspensoin components

Fail 25 Aug 2023 139,144 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded to hose (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Brake fluid close to minimum mark (1.1.10 (d) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge BALD ON INNER EDGE (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge BALD ON INNER EDGE (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge BALD ON INNER EDGE (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge BALD ON INNER EDGE (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 27 Aug 2022 136,500 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases at the joint of center and rear sections. (6.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 18 Aug 2021 132,890 miles

Nearside Rear tyre worn on inner edge

Offside Front tyre worn on inner edge

exhaust has slight leak from front to catalyst

Fail 16 Aug 2021 132,885 miles

Headlamp not working on dipped beam both headlamps - not opening (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases front to catalyst (6.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge feathering slightly to inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 6 Aug 2021 132,834 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases front to catalyst (6.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge feathering slightly to inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 9 Jul 2020 122,603 miles
Fail 8 Jul 2020 122,600 miles

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

Pass 26 Mar 2019 105,476 miles

all under body covered with under seal

Fail 29 Mar 2017 105,460 miles

Nearside Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear Outer Vehicle structure has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

Pass 8 Mar 2016 101,411 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2015 98,749 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2014 97,870 miles
Fail 28 Mar 2014 97,860 miles

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

Offside Front suspension locking device ineffective (2.5.A.4)

Pass 21 Mar 2013 97,706 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2012 97,541 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Pass 21 Mar 2011 97,409 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2010 97,347 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2009 96,929 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2009 96,929 miles

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

Pass 8 Feb 2008 96,388 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2007 93,782 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 17 Feb 2006 93,043 miles
Fail 17 Feb 2006 93,024 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

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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J297 JOU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Blue with a 1,590cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63%.

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 J297 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 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 J297 JOU?

You can check the full history of J297 JOU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J297 JOU registered?

J297 JOU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 4 August 1997.

Is J297 JOU safe to buy?

The MOT history for J297 JOU shows 27 tests with a 63% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J297 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 J297 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.