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J738 BJN

1998 Mazda MX-5

Blue Petrol 1590cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires17 Jun 2026
Tests22 (15 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate68.2%

Mileage

248,475 mi
Last recorded248,475 miles
Recorded on22 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

RegistrationJ738 BJN
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1998
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,590cc

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

15 pass 7 fail
Fail 22 Jul 2026 248,475 miles

Offside Front Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Steering locking device missing both track rod ends (2.1.3 (d))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 18 Jun 2025 245,219 miles

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 9 Jun 2025 245,217 miles

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 11 Apr 2024 227,439 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 10 Apr 2024 227,439 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt buckle not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (d))

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 13 Mar 2020 224,852 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2020 224,847 miles

Central Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 17 Nov 2018 221,980 miles

Nearside Front Nail in tyre

Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt both side (2.1.3 (g) (i))

oil leak

under body off side slightly corrosion

Pass 19 Jun 2017 211,671 miles

Body has slight corrosion all under body (6.1.B.2)

Pass 26 Apr 2016 206,849 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2014 198,193 miles

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

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

light misting of oil on steering rack

Fail 28 Jun 2014 98,136 miles

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale missing (1.3.1b)

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

Nearside Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Power steering ram(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 15 Jun 2013 182,862 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2012 166,285 miles

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

Pass 3 Jun 2011 160,698 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 3 Jun 2010 52,152 miles
Fail 27 May 2010 152,018 miles

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 9 Jun 2009 139,758 miles
Fail 10 Jun 2008 122,274 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 10 Jun 2008 122,274 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2007 115,329 miles

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

Pass 31 May 2006 105,857 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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J738 BJN is a 1998 Mazda MX-5 in Blue with a 1,590cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.2%.

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 J738 BJN, 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 J738 BJN?

You can check the full history of J738 BJN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J738 BJN registered?

J738 BJN is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 11 August 1998.

Is J738 BJN safe to buy?

The MOT history for J738 BJN shows 22 tests with a 68.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J738 BJN 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 J738 BJN. 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.