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J838 XSX

1998 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1600cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Feb 2027
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

127,851 mi
Last recorded127,851 miles
Recorded on27 Feb 2026
Typical for 1998 Mazda MX-586,993 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

RegistrationJ838 XSX
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

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 27 Feb 2026 127,851 miles

Front Coil spring corroded nearside / offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened nearside / offside (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Coil spring corroded nearside / offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 25 Feb 2026 127,839 miles

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

Front Coil spring corroded nearside / offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened nearside / offside (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Coil spring corroded nearside / offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 4 Feb 2022 127,759 miles

Front Coil spring corroded both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill/inner rear wheel arch (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 3 Feb 2022 127,759 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Coil spring corroded both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill/inner rear wheel arch (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 27 Jan 2021 127,487 miles
Pass 28 Jan 2020 127,284 miles

Nearside Front Lower At front lower wing to sill corroded

Offside Front Lower At front lower wing to sill corrodred

Fail 28 Jan 2020 127,284 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower At front lower wing to sill corroded

Offside Front Lower At front lower wing to sill corrodred

Pass 16 Jan 2019 126,644 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 16 Jan 2018 126,055 miles

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)

Pass 12 Jan 2017 125,676 miles

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

Pass 6 Jan 2016 124,965 miles

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)

Pass 19 Dec 2014 123,695 miles

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

Pass 4 Dec 2013 121,103 miles

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

Pass 3 Dec 2012 119,226 miles

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

Pass 22 Nov 2011 18,138 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2010 117,336 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 25 Nov 2009 116,441 miles
Pass 28 Nov 2008 113,346 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 28 Nov 2007 111,185 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Fail 21 Nov 2007 111,146 miles

Centre Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Front Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Indicator tell tale inoperative (1.4.A.2a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Rear Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

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

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Pass 22 Nov 2006 109,431 miles
Pass 1 Dec 2005 107,526 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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J838 XSX 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 81.8%.

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 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 J838 XSX, 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 J838 XSX?

You can check the full history of J838 XSX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J838 XSX registered?

J838 XSX is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 13 May 1998.

Is J838 XSX safe to buy?

The MOT history for J838 XSX shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J838 XSX 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 J838 XSX. 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.