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J80 OBL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires8 May 2026
Tests22 (19 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate86.4%

Mileage

144,024 mi
Last recorded144,024 miles
Recorded on9 May 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ80 OBL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,597cc

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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

19 pass 3 fail
Pass 9 May 2025 144,024 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2024 142,716 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2024 142,716 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases union. (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced rust to outer sill. (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

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

Pass 24 Mar 2023 140,064 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2022 136,202 miles

Offside outer sill weak.

Pass 1 Mar 2021 133,472 miles

Offside outer sill weak

Pass 26 Jun 2019 130,762 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2018 128,618 miles
Fail 15 Jun 2018 128,618 miles

Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 10 May 2017 124,924 miles
Pass 10 May 2016 121,029 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2015 117,254 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2014 117,193 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2013 117,154 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2012 116,904 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2011 116,259 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2010 115,315 miles
Fail 22 Mar 2010 115,315 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 27 Mar 2009 112,091 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2007 99,544 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2006 85,624 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2006 79,148 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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J80 OBL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 86.4%.

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 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 J80 OBL, 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 J80 OBL?

You can check the full history of J80 OBL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J80 OBL registered?

J80 OBL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 7 May 1997.

Is J80 OBL safe to buy?

The MOT history for J80 OBL shows 22 tests with a 86.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J80 OBL 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 J80 OBL. 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.