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J397 TFC

1999 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires8 Jan 2026
Tests33 (20 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate60.6%

Mileage

185,282 mi
Last recorded185,282 miles
Recorded on9 Jan 2025
Typical for 1999 Mazda MX-582,499 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ397 TFC
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1999
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

20 pass 13 fail
Pass 9 Jan 2025 185,282 miles

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 6 Jan 2025 185,282 miles

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

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

Offside Front Lower 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))

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 22 Dec 2023 185,236 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 9 Dec 2022 184,859 miles
Fail 7 Dec 2022 184,859 miles

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

Rear fog lamp switch inoperative (4.5.3 (a))

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

Pass 22 Dec 2021 184,735 miles
Fail 20 Dec 2021 184,732 miles

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 11 Dec 2020 184,645 miles
Fail 9 Dec 2020 184,645 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

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

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

Pass 29 Nov 2019 183,943 miles

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

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

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

Fail 29 Nov 2019 183,943 miles

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Pass 7 Dec 2018 182,260 miles

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

Nearside Non obligatory mirror damaged missing ()

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

Fail 3 Dec 2018 182,256 miles

Nearside Front 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))

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

Offside Front 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 Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced end of sill/inner arch (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Nearside Non obligatory mirror damaged missing ()

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

Pass 29 Nov 2017 180,615 miles

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

slight brake bind on off side front

Fail 29 Nov 2017 180,615 miles

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

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

rear brake discs in poor condition

slight brake bind on off side front

Pass 1 Dec 2016 178,769 miles

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

brake fluid near minimum

rear brake discs surface rust

Fail 29 Nov 2016 178,765 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded outer sill (5.2.6)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

brake fluid near minimum

rear brake discs surface rust

Pass 16 Mar 2016 178,050 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Outer sill panel corroded

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 15 Mar 2016 178,041 miles

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

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

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

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Outer sill panel corroded

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 16 Mar 2015 175,513 miles

low reading offside park brake

Pass 10 Feb 2014 171,989 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2014 171,987 miles

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

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

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

Pass 4 Mar 2013 168,380 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2012 163,963 miles

rust on offside outter sill

Pass 2 Mar 2011 159,835 miles

nearside front brake binding

Pass 18 Feb 2010 154,904 miles

Offside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 16 Feb 2009 147,598 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 16 Feb 2009 147,598 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 7 Feb 2008 135,171 miles
Pass 10 Feb 2007 126,799 miles
Fail 6 Feb 2007 126,749 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Pass 6 Feb 2006 116,798 miles
Fail 3 Feb 2006 116,769 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is above 850mm from the ground (1.6.B3)

Nearside Headlamps matched pair are incorrectly positioned (1.7.3)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image too far to the right (1.6.B4)

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

emissions not tested due to exhast blow.

engine oil leak.

half engine tray fitted.

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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J397 TFC is a 1999 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.6%.

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 J397 TFC, 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 J397 TFC?

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

What year was J397 TFC registered?

J397 TFC is a 1999 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 12 July 1999.

Is J397 TFC safe to buy?

The MOT history for J397 TFC shows 33 tests with a 60.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J397 TFC 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 TFC. 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.