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J978 TVS

1999 Mazda MX-5

Blue Petrol 1596cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Apr 2027
Tests25 (18 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate72%

Mileage

132,899 mi
Last recorded132,899 miles
Recorded on31 Mar 2026
Typical for 1999 Mazda MX-582,499 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ978 TVS
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1999
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,596cc

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 7 fail
Pass 31 Mar 2026 132,899 miles

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

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (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 25 Mar 2025 129,309 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2024 121,699 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Mar 2023 117,900 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2022 115,039 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2021 114,873 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2021 114,873 miles

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Apr 2019 114,401 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2019 114,401 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 10 Apr 2018 113,541 miles

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

Pass 21 Apr 2017 113,122 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2017 113,122 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Front tyre perished

Offside Front tyre perished

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

Pass 12 Apr 2016 112,765 miles
Fail 12 Apr 2016 112,765 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 21 Apr 2015 111,106 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2015 111,105 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

Pass 22 May 2012 110,737 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2011 108,827 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2010 105,474 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2009 100,106 miles
Fail 3 Jun 2008 97,796 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

slight bulge in nsr tyre outer sidewall

Pass 3 Jun 2008 97,796 miles

slight bulge in nsr tyre outer sidewall

Pass 7 Jun 2007 96,875 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2006 94,932 miles
Fail 8 Jun 2006 94,932 miles

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

offside rear tyre cracking badly on outer tread

rear number plate cracked

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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J978 TVS is a 1999 Mazda MX-5 in Blue with a 1,596cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72%.

Across all 1999 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.8% with a typical mileage of 82,499 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 J978 TVS, 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 27 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 J978 TVS?

You can check the full history of J978 TVS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J978 TVS registered?

J978 TVS is a 1999 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 17 August 1999.

Is J978 TVS safe to buy?

The MOT history for J978 TVS shows 25 tests with a 72% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J978 TVS 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 J978 TVS. 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.