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J659 ARC

1998 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Nov 2025
Tests19 (13 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate68.4%

Mileage

151,384 mi
Last recorded151,384 miles
Recorded on27 Jul 2026
Typical for 1998 Mazda MX-586,993 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ659 ARC
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1998
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

13 pass 6 fail
Fail 27 Jul 2026 151,384 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 13 Nov 2024 151,030 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2023 150,966 miles

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

Fail 28 Sep 2023 150,966 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

Rear fog lamp switch missing (4.5.3 (a))

Rear fog lamp switch not operating in accordance with the requirements (4.5.3 (a))

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

Pass 22 Aug 2019 150,963 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 20 Aug 2019 150,963 miles

Nearside Front Hydraulic brake calliper leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 15 Jun 2017 150,405 miles

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

Offside Front old style head lamp fitted (light output slightly dimmer)

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

Pass 23 Jul 2014 149,735 miles

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 23 Jul 2014 149,731 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 20 May 2013 148,667 miles

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 16 May 2012 147,265 miles

Offside front bottom of wing corroded

Offside rear sill corroded

Pass 4 May 2011 145,467 miles
Pass 29 Apr 2010 141,589 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2010 141,589 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 7 May 2009 140,652 miles

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

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

Fail 7 May 2009 140,652 miles

Centre Upper Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

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

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

Pass 11 Apr 2008 139,281 miles

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

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

Pass 16 Apr 2007 137,363 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2006 133,964 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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J659 ARC is a 1998 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.4%.

Across all 1998 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.9% with a typical mileage of 86,993 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 J659 ARC, 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 28 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 J659 ARC?

You can check the full history of J659 ARC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J659 ARC registered?

J659 ARC is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 15 April 1998.

Is J659 ARC safe to buy?

The MOT history for J659 ARC shows 19 tests with a 68.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J659 ARC 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 J659 ARC. 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.