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J798 WDW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Apr 2027
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

142,466 mi
Last recorded142,466 miles
Recorded on7 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ798 WDW
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 7 Apr 2026 142,466 miles

Nearside Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal suspension mounting and floor/ inner sill area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal suspension mounting and floor to inner sill area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 30 Jan 2026 140,534 miles

Nearside Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal inner sill to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal inner sill to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Fail 30 Jan 2026 140,534 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal inner sill to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal inner sill to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Pass 31 Jan 2025 131,979 miles

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 24 Jan 2024 124,752 miles
Fail 22 Jan 2024 124,752 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

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

Offside Rear Bumper damaged and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted (6.1.4 (a) (i))

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

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Jan 2023 117,427 miles

Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 4 Jan 2023 117,427 miles

Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

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

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

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Dec 2021 112,198 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2020 106,729 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

all sub frame and suspension components have surface corrosion

underbody slight corrosion

Fail 16 Nov 2020 106,726 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

All sub-frame and suspension components have surface corrosion

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Underbody has slight under body corrosion

Pass 7 Jun 2019 103,014 miles
Pass 18 Apr 2018 96,664 miles

Outer skin sills have corrosion

Pass 11 Apr 2017 88,083 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

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

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 11 Apr 2017 88,083 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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 Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 20 Apr 2016 79,632 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit side wall cracked but no cords exposed (4.1.E.1)

Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement d bushes (2.4.G.2)

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated both perished (3.6.B.4d)

various rubber bushes perished but not causing any problems at present time

Fail 20 Apr 2016 79,632 miles

Headlamp not working on dipped beam both lamps (1.7.5a)

Headlamp not working on main beam both lamps (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings inner sill (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear pipe (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit side wall cracked but no cords exposed (4.1.E.1)

Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement d bushes (2.4.G.2)

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated both perished (3.6.B.4d)

various rubber bushes perished but not causing any problems at present time

Pass 6 Mar 2013 78,948 miles

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

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

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

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 28 Feb 2013 78,948 miles

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)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 1 Mar 2012 77,998 miles

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

Fail 24 Feb 2012 77,998 miles

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

Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

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

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

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

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

Pass 8 Mar 2011 76,437 miles

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

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

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

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

offside front tyre wearing thin on inner edge

Fail 28 Feb 2011 76,437 miles

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

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

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

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

offside front tyre wearing thin on inner edge

Pass 2 Mar 2010 72,508 miles
Fail 1 Mar 2010 72,508 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 19 Jan 2009 70,341 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Pass 19 Dec 2007 66,989 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2006 62,702 miles

Nearside Inner Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Inner Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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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J798 WDW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1997 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.7% with a typical mileage of 85,711 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 J798 WDW, 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 29 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 J798 WDW?

You can check the full history of J798 WDW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J798 WDW registered?

J798 WDW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 13 August 1997.

Is J798 WDW safe to buy?

The MOT history for J798 WDW shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J798 WDW 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 J798 WDW. 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.