CarVerify

Free Car Check

J778 WEP

1998 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1600cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Apr 2026
Tests22 (13 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate59.1%

Mileage

142,643 mi
Last recorded142,643 miles
Recorded on16 Apr 2025
Typical for 1998 Mazda MX-586,993 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

RegistrationJ778 WEP
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1998
ColourSilver
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

13 pass 9 fail
Pass 16 Apr 2025 142,643 miles

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

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

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

Fail 15 Apr 2025 142,643 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp does not emit a steady red light (4.5.4 (a))

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

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

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

Pass 6 Jun 2023 142,582 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Inner Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 22 May 2023 142,561 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Inner Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 28 May 2022 142,310 miles

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

Nearside Rear Inner Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement outer lower rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 19 May 2022 142,290 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

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

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

Nearside Rear Inner Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement outer lower rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 6 Apr 2021 139,360 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2020 139,296 miles

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear exhaust clamp missing

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

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

Pass 22 Mar 2019 138,650 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened o/s and n/s (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened o/s and n/s (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases clamp missing (6.1.2 (a))

Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened front and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Fail 11 Mar 2019 138,648 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced o/s and n/s inner and outer sills (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened o/s and n/s (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened o/s and n/s (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases clamp missing (6.1.2 (a))

Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened front and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 1 Jul 2014 137,046 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Fail 7 Oct 2013 136,870 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 28 Jul 2012 134,956 miles

power steering bottle overfull

Fail 1 Jun 2012 134,581 miles

Nearside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Front Lower Front suspension locking device missing (2.5.A.4)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

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

Offside Steering locking device missing (2.2.C.1g)

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

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

Pass 25 May 2011 131,492 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 19 May 2011 131,461 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Offside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 19 Oct 2009 127,355 miles
Fail 13 Oct 2009 127,204 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

plastic sill covers fitted

Pass 21 Aug 2008 122,171 miles

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

Nearside Inner Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Inner Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 20 Jul 2007 118,162 miles
Fail 20 Jul 2007 118,162 miles

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

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

Pass 17 Jul 2006 114,838 miles

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

J778 WEP is a 1998 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 59.1%.

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 J778 WEP, 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 J778 WEP?

You can check the full history of J778 WEP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J778 WEP registered?

J778 WEP is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 16 July 1998.

Is J778 WEP safe to buy?

The MOT history for J778 WEP shows 22 tests with a 59.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J778 WEP 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 J778 WEP. 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.