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L503 LTF

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Jul 2027
Tests11 (5 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate45.5%

Mileage

122,219 mi
Last recorded122,219 miles
Recorded on3 Jul 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationL503 LTF
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

5 pass 6 fail
Pass 3 Jul 2026 122,219 miles
Fail 3 Jul 2026 122,218 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 26 Feb 2025 120,918 miles
Fail 24 Aug 2024 120,918 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

under body corroded

Fail 4 Jul 2019 120,899 miles

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

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

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

Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel both sides (1.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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))

Pass 9 May 2013 120,392 miles

cracks to nearside and offside front lower suspension balljoint rubber gaitor

damage to nearside chassis rail

offside chassis rail crushed and has some body filler

Fail 8 May 2013 120,392 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Upper Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

cracks to nearside and offside front lower suspension balljoint rubber gaitor

damage to nearside chassis rail

offside chassis rail crushed and has some body filler

Pass 15 May 2012 119,249 miles

n/s/r tyre inner side wall badly perishing

Fail 8 May 2012 119,249 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

n/s/r tyre inner side wall badly perishing

Pass 28 Apr 2007 118,468 miles
Fail 28 Apr 2007 118,468 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

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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L503 LTF is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 45.5%.

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 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 L503 LTF, 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 L503 LTF?

You can check the full history of L503 LTF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L503 LTF registered?

L503 LTF is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 July 1997.

Is L503 LTF safe to buy?

The MOT history for L503 LTF shows 11 tests with a 45.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L503 LTF 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 L503 LTF. 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.