CarVerify

Free Car Check

J397 CEV

2005 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1597cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 May 2027
Tests23 (14 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate60.9%

Mileage

219,559 mi
Last recorded219,559 miles
Recorded on29 May 2026
Typical for 2005 Mazda MX-556,278 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

RegistrationJ397 CEV
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year2005
ColourSilver
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

14 pass 9 fail
Pass 29 May 2026 219,559 miles

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

Fail 22 May 2026 219,557 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 16 Apr 2025 214,466 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 11 Apr 2025 214,466 miles

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 29 Apr 2024 210,382 miles

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

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

Fail 18 Apr 2024 210,382 miles

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 27 Apr 2023 201,153 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Outer sill corroded

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

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

Fail 14 Apr 2023 201,153 miles

Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Outer sill corroded

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 30 May 2018 191,938 miles

Nearside Rear 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))

hand brake efficiency only just met requirements and requires adjustment

Pass 18 May 2017 183,146 miles

Nearside Front tyre has cut in outer wall

slight bind on both rear wheels

Fail 15 May 2017 183,146 miles

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is broken (3.1.5)

Nearside Front tyre has cut in outer wall

slight bind on both rear wheels

Fail 12 Apr 2017 183,137 miles

Nearside rear brake excessively fluctuating (3.7.B.3)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Offside Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded door sill (5.2.6)

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

Parking brake lever defective so that it cannot be satisfactorily operated (3.1.3c)

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

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

rear parking (secondary) brakes imbalanced (3.7.B.6b)

Nearside Rear Wheel nut(s) loose (4.2.A.1e) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Wheel nut(s) loose (4.2.A.1e) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside wiper worn

Pass 17 Jul 2014 183,106 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2012 181,292 miles

Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

front tyres splitting and cracking around tread and side walls

Fail 5 Dec 2012 181,288 miles

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

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

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

Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

front tyres splitting and cracking around tread and side walls

Pass 28 Nov 2011 175,848 miles
Fail 24 Nov 2011 175,780 miles

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 29 Nov 2010 166,602 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2009 159,518 miles

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

Pass 24 Nov 2008 151,012 miles
Fail 24 Nov 2008 151,012 miles

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 4 Jun 2007 142,296 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2006 139,081 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

J397 CEV is a 2005 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.9%.

Across all 2005 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 76.7% with a typical mileage of 56,278 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 J397 CEV, 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 21 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 J397 CEV?

You can check the full history of J397 CEV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J397 CEV registered?

J397 CEV is a 2005 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 10 June 2005.

Is J397 CEV safe to buy?

The MOT history for J397 CEV shows 23 tests with a 60.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J397 CEV 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 J397 CEV. 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.