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J540 XBL

1991 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Jan 2027
Tests26 (16 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

206,571 mi
Last recorded206,571 miles
Recorded on16 Jan 2026
Typical for 1991 Mazda MX-5114,279 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ540 XBL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1991
ColourBlack
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

16 pass 10 fail
Pass 16 Jan 2026 206,571 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides on ends (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 2 Jan 2026 206,555 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure link nut loose (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides on ends (1.1.11 (c))

Front Electrical wiring inadequately secured down side of gear box (4.11 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 5 Dec 2025 206,503 miles

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

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

Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

UNDERBODY HEAVILY UNDERSEALED

Pass 17 Oct 2024 200,340 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Fail 14 Sep 2024 200,331 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

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

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

Pass 14 Sep 2023 193,325 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2022 188,833 miles

Offside Front Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Sep 2021 184,111 miles
Pass 16 Oct 2019 177,126 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2018 165,876 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Oct 2017 149,960 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2016 149,904 miles

Rear both rear tyres starting to crack

chassis and suspension starting to rust

Fail 19 Aug 2016 149,900 miles

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

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

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

Coolant leak poss water pump leaking ()

Rear both rear tyres starting to crack

chassis and suspension starting to rust

Pass 10 Mar 2015 147,863 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2014 149,841 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

o/s/f floor corroded but not within any perscribed areas .

Fail 12 Nov 2013 149,755 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Pass 12 Nov 2013 149,755 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Pass 20 Nov 2012 148,413 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

battery insecure

Fail 19 Nov 2012 148,413 miles

Front registration plate character(s) likely to be misread (6.3.4b)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

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

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

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

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

battery insecure

Pass 27 Jul 2010 136,718 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Oil leak

engine tray fitted

Fail 27 Jul 2010 136,718 miles

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Oil leak

engine tray fitted

Pass 27 Feb 2009 113,426 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2009 113,306 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Fail 31 Jan 2008 104,757 miles

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

Front number plate starting to deteriorate

N/S headlamp lens slightly insecure

N/S/F Tyre has slight cut in outter wall

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 31 Jan 2008 104,757 miles

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

Front number plate starting to deteriorate

N/S headlamp lens slightly insecure

N/S/F Tyre has slight cut in outter wall

Pass 29 Jan 2007 99,853 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

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J540 XBL is a 1991 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

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 J540 XBL, 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 J540 XBL?

You can check the full history of J540 XBL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J540 XBL registered?

J540 XBL is a 1991 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1991.

Is J540 XBL safe to buy?

The MOT history for J540 XBL shows 26 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J540 XBL 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 J540 XBL. 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.