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L159 RMX

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Apr 2027
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

257,431 mi
Last recorded257,431 miles
Recorded on1 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationL159 RMX
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,839cc

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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 1 May 2026 257,431 miles
Pass 29 Jan 2025 254,087 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2024 248,967 miles
Fail 2 Feb 2024 248,967 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 21 Jul 2022 248,575 miles

both inner sills slightly corroded

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

floor pan and rear suspension components corroded

Pass 8 Jul 2021 246,765 miles

Both rear sills and inner wheel arches are corroded

Floorpan is corroded

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

Rear subframe and suspension arms are corroded

Fail 8 Jul 2021 246,765 miles

Both rear sills and inner wheel arches are corroded

Floorpan is corroded

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

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

Rear subframe and suspension arms are corroded

Pass 7 Jul 2020 246,101 miles

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

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Both (5.3.3 (b) (i))

underside corroded and undersealed

Pass 23 Jul 2019 245,684 miles

vehicle has had welding repairs and been undersealed

Pass 20 Jul 2018 242,965 miles

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

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

rear subframe and suspension components are corroded

there is corrosion to front chassis legs,floorpan and inner sills

Pass 30 Jun 2017 238,992 miles

some corrosion to front chassis rails

some corrosion to rear suspension components

Pass 1 Jul 2016 67,250 miles
Fail 1 Jul 2016 233,965 miles

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 1 Jul 2015 230,033 miles

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

corrosion to rear of both outer sills

Pass 17 Jul 2014 224,575 miles

light corrosion to exhaust, front and rear suspension

Pass 5 Jul 2013 191,987 miles

non cat test carried out

Pass 29 Jun 2012 158,015 miles

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

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

both sides rear, brake discs slightly worn

o/s outer sill has some corrosion

Pass 29 Jun 2011 121,928 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2010 110,617 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2009 109,035 miles

osf tyre outer sidewall badly perished

Fail 6 Jul 2009 109,033 miles

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

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1) DANGEROUS

osf tyre outer sidewall badly perished

Pass 24 Jul 2008 108,702 miles
Pass 1 May 2007 108,386 miles
Fail 1 May 2007 108,386 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Oil leak

nsf tyre cracking on sidewall

Pass 24 Apr 2006 107,108 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

oil leak

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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L159 RMX is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 L159 RMX, 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 L159 RMX?

You can check the full history of L159 RMX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L159 RMX registered?

L159 RMX is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 29 July 1997.

Is L159 RMX safe to buy?

The MOT history for L159 RMX shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L159 RMX 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 L159 RMX. 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.