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L281 SUB

1998 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 May 2027
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

130,528 mi
Last recorded130,528 miles
Recorded on21 Apr 2026
Typical for 1998 Mazda MX-586,993 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationL281 SUB
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1998
ColourBlack
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

20 pass 12 fail
Pass 21 Apr 2026 130,528 miles

Central Lower Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Suspension components corroded

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Apr 2026 130,528 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 Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Central Lower Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Suspension components corroded

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 14 May 2025 129,965 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Fail 1 May 2025 129,963 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

Pass 2 May 2024 129,621 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 2 May 2023 129,243 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 31 Mar 2022 128,822 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2022 128,822 miles

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

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

Pass 26 Mar 2021 127,788 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2019 127,440 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2018 126,863 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2017 126,536 miles
Fail 2 Jun 2017 126,536 miles

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 27 May 2016 125,210 miles
Pass 22 May 2015 124,344 miles
Fail 22 May 2015 124,344 miles

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

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

Fail 2 Jun 2014 121,731 miles

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

all 4 tyres wearing on inner edge

Pass 2 Jun 2014 121,731 miles

all 4 tyres wearing on inner edge

Pass 19 Jun 2013 118,746 miles

Nearside front brake grabbing slightly (3.7.A.2b)

all four tyres worn on inside edge

Fail 18 Jun 2013 118,741 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside front brake grabbing slightly (3.7.A.2b)

all four tyres worn on inside edge

Pass 13 Jun 2012 116,402 miles

all four tyres bald on inner edges

Fail 6 Jun 2012 116,340 miles

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

all four tyres bald on inner edges

Pass 9 Jun 2011 112,063 miles

o/s/f tyre bald on inner edge

two rear tyres bald on inner edges

Fail 2 Jun 2011 111,949 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Front brake disc contaminated by grease (3.5.1h)

Rear brake disc contaminated by grease (3.5.1h)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

o/s/f tyre bald on inner edge

two rear tyres bald on inner edges

Pass 10 Jun 2010 107,962 miles

o/s/r & n/s/r outter sills corroded but not holed

Fail 9 Jun 2010 107,962 miles

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

Nearside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

o/s/r & n/s/r outter sills corroded but not holed

Pass 16 Jun 2009 104,845 miles
Fail 15 Jun 2009 104,845 miles

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 9 Jun 2008 99,403 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2007 90,135 miles
Fail 7 Jun 2007 90,135 miles

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Pass 5 Jun 2006 88,953 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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Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

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L281 SUB is a 1998 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 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 L281 SUB, 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 L281 SUB?

You can check the full history of L281 SUB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L281 SUB registered?

L281 SUB is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 10 June 1998.

Is L281 SUB safe to buy?

The MOT history for L281 SUB shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L281 SUB 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 L281 SUB. 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.