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J489 AAW

1991 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires19 May 2026
Tests27 (18 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

194,472 mi
Last recorded194,472 miles
Recorded on2 May 2025
Typical for 1991 Mazda MX-5114,279 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ489 AAW
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1991
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

18 pass 9 fail
Pass 2 May 2025 194,472 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Electrical wiring insecure abs sensor (4.11 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Pass 17 May 2024 193,965 miles

Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both front (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened both front (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both front (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Fail 17 May 2024 193,942 miles

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

Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both front (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened both front (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both front (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Pass 20 May 2023 193,886 miles

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

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material OSF,NSF,OSR,NSR (1.1.11 (c))

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

Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. OSR,NSR (1.2.1 (c))

Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened Both front and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge OSF,NSF 3 mm (5.2.3 (e))

handbrake lever has little reserve travel

Pass 23 Apr 2022 190,749 miles

Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened front and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material OSF,NSF,OSR,NSR (1.1.11 (c))

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

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front suspension component corroded

Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened OSF,NSF (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge STRONG ADVISE 2mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge STRONG ADVISE 2 mm (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear suspension component corroded

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement OSF,NSF,OSR,NSR (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 20 Apr 2022 190,745 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.2.2 (e))

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Front Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Inner Brake disc significantly and obviously worn OSF,NSF (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Road wheel fixings not compatible (5.2.2 (d))

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Rear Exhaust shield missing where fitted as original equipment creating a risk of fire (6.1.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened front and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material OSF,NSF,OSR,NSR (1.1.11 (c))

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

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front suspension component corroded

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge STRONG ADVISE 2 mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear suspension component corroded

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement OSF,NSF,OSR,NSR (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 7 May 2019 187,973 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

outer sills corroded

Fail 2 May 2019 187,952 miles

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

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

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

outer sills corroded

Pass 29 Mar 2018 184,357 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded All (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.2.6)

Oil leak ()

Underbody heavily undersealed making hard to inspect

some covers not allow full inspect

Pass 3 Apr 2017 180,378 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arch area (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arch area (5.2.6)

Oil leak ()

Fail 3 Apr 2017 180,378 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arch area (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arch area (5.2.6)

Oil leak ()

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 14 Apr 2016 176,015 miles

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

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (5.2.6)

Rear brakes slight binding

Rear inner wheel arches corroded but not exessive

under body is wax oiled

Pass 20 Apr 2015 173,154 miles

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

Oil leak

slight corrosion in rear inner wheel arches

Fail 16 Apr 2015 173,133 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

Oil leak

slight corrosion in rear inner wheel arches

Pass 31 Mar 2014 170,074 miles

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

Pass 3 Apr 2013 167,492 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2012 163,519 miles
Pass 4 Mar 2011 159,086 miles
Fail 3 Mar 2011 159,086 miles

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

Pass 12 Mar 2010 154,293 miles
Pass 28 Mar 2009 152,079 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 19 Apr 2008 150,516 miles
Fail 12 Apr 2008 150,502 miles

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

Pass 20 Apr 2007 149,204 miles
Fail 14 Apr 2007 149,164 miles

Offside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 14 Mar 2006 144,967 miles
Fail 11 Mar 2006 144,901 miles

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

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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£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

J489 AAW is a 1991 Mazda MX-5 in Silver 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 J489 AAW, 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 J489 AAW?

You can check the full history of J489 AAW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J489 AAW registered?

J489 AAW is a 1991 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1991.

Is J489 AAW safe to buy?

The MOT history for J489 AAW 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 J489 AAW 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 J489 AAW. 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.