CarVerify

Free Car Check

J505 UNB

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1600cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 May 2027
Tests24 (18 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

162,234 mi
Last recorded162,234 miles
Recorded on30 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 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

RegistrationJ505 UNB
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,600cc

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 6 fail
Pass 30 Apr 2026 162,234 miles
Pass 2 May 2025 160,896 miles

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Apr 2024 158,099 miles

Offside Front Lower wing corroding

Pass 28 Apr 2023 153,544 miles

Offside Front Lower wing corroded

Fail 28 Apr 2023 153,509 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded to flexy (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened wish bone arm (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower wing corroded

Pass 7 May 2021 146,037 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2020 137,238 miles

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

Pass 5 Jan 2017 136,592 miles

Oil leak ()

under-tray fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 26 Nov 2015 133,627 miles

center stop lamp not working

oil leak

Fail 20 Nov 2015 133,627 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

center stop lamp not working

offside front brake slightly stiff

oil leak

Pass 4 Nov 2014 128,335 miles

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

Oil leak

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 4 Nov 2014 128,335 miles

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

Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Oil leak

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 10 Jun 2013 126,723 miles

Oil leak

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 17 May 2012 116,747 miles

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

Fail 17 May 2012 116,747 miles

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

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

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

Pass 6 Jun 2011 115,719 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2010 114,375 miles
Pass 29 May 2009 113,336 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2008 112,270 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2008 112,221 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 9 Jun 2007 110,684 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2006 108,166 miles
Pass 6 Sep 2005 101,509 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2005 101,240 miles

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

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

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

rear suspension components corroded

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

J505 UNB is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 J505 UNB, 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 J505 UNB?

You can check the full history of J505 UNB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J505 UNB registered?

J505 UNB is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 25 July 1997.

Is J505 UNB safe to buy?

The MOT history for J505 UNB shows 24 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J505 UNB 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 J505 UNB. 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.