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J790 XBL

1991 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1590cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Oct 2026
Tests18 (12 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

212,492 mi
Last recorded212,492 miles
Recorded on29 Oct 2025
Typical for 1991 Mazda MX-5114,279 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ790 XBL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1991
ColourBlack
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

12 pass 6 fail
Pass 29 Oct 2025 212,492 miles
Pass 5 Nov 2016 210,152 miles

Front wheels both bind when turned by hand

Nearside Front Lower 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 brake pipe corroded

Offside Rear tyre perished and low on tread

Pass 6 Nov 2015 201,844 miles

front brake discs getting thin

nearside front brake slightly binding

Fail 29 Oct 2015 201,799 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

front brake discs getting thin

nearside front brake slightly binding

Pass 18 Oct 2014 193,582 miles

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

n/s/f outer tyre wall small cut

Fail 11 Oct 2014 193,380 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

n/s/f outer tyre wall small cut

Pass 13 Oct 2013 185,295 miles

offside front brake pipe corroded

slight exhaust blow

Pass 13 Oct 2012 177,914 miles

General underbody corrosion, slight corrosion to brake pipes

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

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

unable to see front brake pads

Pass 16 Oct 2011 168,793 miles

general underbody corrosion/perishing

slight bind to nearside rear brake

Pass 29 Oct 2010 160,795 miles

see checklist 117387

Fail 24 Oct 2010 160,790 miles

Offside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

see checklist 117387

Pass 11 Sep 2009 153,630 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2008 143,260 miles
Fail 20 Sep 2008 143,239 miles

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

Pass 20 Sep 2007 134,562 miles
Fail 19 Sep 2007 134,562 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 14 Sep 2006 128,566 miles

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

Fail 13 Sep 2006 128,566 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

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

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

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

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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J790 XBL is a 1991 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,590cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 J790 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 J790 XBL?

You can check the full history of J790 XBL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J790 XBL registered?

J790 XBL is a 1991 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1991.

Is J790 XBL safe to buy?

The MOT history for J790 XBL shows 18 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J790 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 J790 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.