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J365 NLN

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 May 2027
Tests18 (12 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

197,738 mi
Last recorded197,738 miles
Recorded on22 May 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

RegistrationJ365 NLN
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

12 pass 6 fail
Pass 22 May 2026 197,738 miles

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 29 Apr 2026 197,729 miles

Emissions unable to be completed engine will not maintain revs, hunting excessively (8.2.1.2 (d))

Exhaust emissions - engine idle speed too high (8.2.1.2 (e))

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

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Mar 2025 197,252 miles

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

Front all front suspension components corroded

Nearside Rear Outer outer sill corroded but not holed

Rear all rear suspension components corroded

Pass 22 Jan 2024 196,728 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2023 96,038 miles
Fail 18 Jan 2023 96,035 miles

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

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 15 Oct 2021 191,722 miles

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

Coolant leak

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material of front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 20 Oct 2020 186,261 miles
Pass 16 Apr 2019 186,067 miles

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

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

Pass 18 Apr 2018 185,724 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2017 185,272 miles

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Fail 12 Apr 2017 185,272 miles

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Rear Rear fog lamp has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.3.2b)

Pass 19 Apr 2016 152,617 miles
Fail 19 Apr 2016 152,617 miles

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 21 Apr 2015 177,316 miles
Fail 10 Apr 2015 176,668 miles

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 25 Apr 2014 172,159 miles
Fail 15 Apr 2014 172,157 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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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J365 NLN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 J365 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 J365 NLN?

You can check the full history of J365 NLN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J365 NLN registered?

J365 NLN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 14 November 1997.

Is J365 NLN safe to buy?

The MOT history for J365 NLN shows 18 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J365 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 J365 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.