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J7 JKL

1996 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Oct 2026
Tests21 (17 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81%

Mileage

105,642 mi
Last recorded105,642 miles
Recorded on21 Oct 2025
Typical for 1996 Mazda MX-586,097 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationJ7 JKL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1996
ColourRed
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

17 pass 4 fail
Pass 21 Oct 2025 105,642 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2022 104,807 miles
Fail 29 Mar 2022 104,807 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Pass 26 Mar 2021 103,875 miles

Diff leak

Nearside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Pass 8 Jul 2019 102,328 miles
Fail 4 Jul 2019 102,326 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 14 Jun 2018 101,629 miles
Pass 15 May 2017 100,928 miles
Pass 6 May 2016 100,699 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2015 100,019 miles
Pass 24 Apr 2014 99,993 miles
Pass 3 May 2013 99,840 miles
Pass 4 May 2012 99,661 miles

front and rear anti roll bar link bushes cracked

Pass 5 May 2011 98,576 miles
Fail 5 May 2011 98,576 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Pass 6 May 2010 96,747 miles
Pass 29 May 2009 95,152 miles
Pass 29 May 2008 92,289 miles
Pass 31 May 2007 88,994 miles

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

Pass 7 Jun 2006 85,461 miles
Fail 5 Jun 2006 85,453 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

oil leak

plastic under covers fitted

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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J7 JKL is a 1996 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81%.

Across all 1996 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.8% with a typical mileage of 86,097 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 J7 JKL, 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 30 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 J7 JKL?

You can check the full history of J7 JKL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J7 JKL registered?

J7 JKL is a 1996 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 3 April 1996.

Is J7 JKL safe to buy?

The MOT history for J7 JKL shows 21 tests with a 81% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J7 JKL 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 J7 JKL. 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.