MOT Status
ValidMileage
180,145 miSignificantly above average — investigate
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Vehicle Details
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50+ data pointsMOT History
Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))
Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))
Fuel smell under bonnet
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))
Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS
Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))
Fuel smell under bonnet
Nearside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Nearside Front Position light flickering
Offside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))
Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))
Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
Nearside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))
Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))
Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)
Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)
Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)
Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)
Oil leak
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
Oil leak
Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)
Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)
Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)
Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
rear brake disc worn/corroded
Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Nearside rear brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.5b)
Offside rear brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.5b)
Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)
Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
rear number plate slightly deteriorated
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)
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Offside Rear 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.
Top MOT Failure Points
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.
J397 XCF is a 1991 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.
Across all 1991 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.4% with a typical mileage of 114,279 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 XCF, 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 35 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 J397 XCF?
You can check the full history of J397 XCF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.
What year was J397 XCF registered?
J397 XCF is a 1991 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1991.
Is J397 XCF safe to buy?
The MOT history for J397 XCF shows 27 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 J397 XCF 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 XCF. 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.