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J981 LTP

1992 Mazda MX-5

Grey Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Apr 2027
Tests29 (18 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate62.1%

Mileage

134,748 mi
Last recorded134,748 miles
Recorded on9 Apr 2026
Typical for 1992 Mazda MX-5116,364 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationJ981 LTP
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1992
ColourGrey
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 11 fail
Pass 9 Apr 2026 134,748 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair (1.2.1 (c))

re test, original test carried out by P. P. Smith

Fail 9 Apr 2026 134,748 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair (1.2.1 (c))

general surface corrosion underside of vehicle

Fail 8 Sep 2025 134,744 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced inner sill holed (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing cracking in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Rear marker lights white light n/s & o/s

Pass 22 Jul 2024 128,593 miles

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

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Upper 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 to wheel arch area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 19 Jul 2024 128,591 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Upper 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 to wheel arch area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Jul 2023 124,362 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive engine area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 11 Jul 2023 124,352 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Front All direction indicators incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Front Position lamp missing (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Headlamp insecure shaking (4.1.1 (c))

Offside Front Seat belt missing (7.1.2 (a))

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Horn control insecure (7.7 (b))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive engine area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Dec 2022 122,769 miles

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

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

Pass 17 Dec 2021 122,723 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

both front upper and lower suspension arm ball joint covers deteriorated both sides

front brake imbalance near maximum

vehicle has been stood

Pass 27 Apr 2019 122,647 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2018 122,619 miles

Battery partially insecure but not likely to move from vertical position

Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp Both pulsing slightly with indicators (1.1.A.3f)

Fail 26 Apr 2018 122,619 miles

Battery partially insecure but not likely to move from vertical position

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp Both pulsing slightly with indicators (1.1.A.3f)

Pass 24 May 2016 120,232 miles

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

front registration plate slightly damaged but not likely to be misread

Fail 16 May 2016 120,130 miles

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

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

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit both o/s (4.1.E.1)

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

both front tyre worn on outer tread areas, O/s/r tyre worn on inner tread area

front registration plate slightly damaged but not likely to be misread

Pass 28 May 2015 116,223 miles

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

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

Fail 26 May 2015 116,220 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 14 May 2014 109,943 miles

Nearside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 15 May 2013 103,038 miles

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

Pass 17 May 2012 95,775 miles
Fail 15 May 2012 95,747 miles

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

Pass 9 Nov 2011 95,725 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2011 95,687 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 18 Oct 2010 93,194 miles

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Pass 3 Aug 2009 89,256 miles

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Nail in offside front tyre

Pass 22 Jul 2008 87,971 miles

Nail in offside front tyre

Fail 22 Jul 2008 87,971 miles

Nail in offside front tyre

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

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

Pass 23 Jul 2007 83,298 miles
Fail 11 Jun 2007 83,281 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively scored (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g) DANGEROUS

Pass 22 May 2006 79,607 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight damage (6.1.A.1)

Vehicle structure has slight damage (6.1.A.1)

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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J981 LTP is a 1992 Mazda MX-5 in Grey with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.1%.

Across all 1992 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.0% with a typical mileage of 116,364 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 J981 LTP, 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 34 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 J981 LTP?

You can check the full history of J981 LTP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J981 LTP registered?

J981 LTP is a 1992 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1992.

Is J981 LTP safe to buy?

The MOT history for J981 LTP shows 29 tests with a 62.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J981 LTP 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 J981 LTP. 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.