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L5 XNG

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Jul 2027
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

132,227 mi
Last recorded132,227 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

RegistrationL5 XNG
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,840cc

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 8 fail
Pass 3 Jul 2026 132,227 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2024 131,668 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2024 131,664 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 17 Aug 2023 124,399 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2022 117,554 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2022 117,476 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced floor section (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced floor section (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Fail 18 Mar 2022 117,443 miles

Driver's view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen significantly affected by an obstruction (3.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (8.1.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))

Nearside Front Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill and front wing mounting (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp incorrect colour (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill and front wing mounting (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Position lamp incorrect colour (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill and sill end (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Pass 24 Dec 2020 100,784 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front wing corroding due to age

Offside Front wing excessively corroded, still secure and not within 30cm of a prescribed area

Fail 15 Dec 2020 100,758 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits possibly caused by blowing exhaust (8.2.1.2 (c))

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill excessively corroded (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Backbox splitting (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front wing corroding due to age

Offside Front wing excessively corroded, still secure and not within 30cm of a prescribed area

Pass 18 Jun 2019 96,005 miles

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Upper Stop lamp(s) non-obligatory stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 8 Jun 2018 95,800 miles

Nearside Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Stop lamp(s) non-obligatory stop lamp not working high level brake light innop (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Jun 2017 89,152 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Front wipers slightly smearing the screen

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

Nearside front brake binding

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

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

Oil leak

Undertray fitted

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Fail 9 Jun 2017 89,152 miles

Headlamp aim not tested Due to dipped beam not working (1.8.A.1c)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Front wipers slightly smearing the screen

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

Nearside front brake binding

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

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

Oil leak

Undertray fitted

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 4 May 2016 81,196 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2015 80,866 miles

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 29 Apr 2014 80,207 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 15 Dec 2012 79,611 miles
Pass 15 Nov 2011 79,177 miles
Pass 6 Nov 2010 78,074 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2009 76,188 miles

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Fail 10 Nov 2009 76,181 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel bead rim badly distorted (4.2.A.1a)

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

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Pass 30 Oct 2008 73,763 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 25 Oct 2008 73,575 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Offside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 2 Nov 2007 67,803 miles
Pass 2 May 2007 67,754 miles
Pass 6 Sep 2006 56,438 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2005 47,504 miles
Fail 30 Aug 2005 47,504 miles

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

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

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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L5 XNG is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 L5 XNG, 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 L5 XNG?

You can check the full history of L5 XNG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L5 XNG registered?

L5 XNG is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 8 October 1997.

Is L5 XNG safe to buy?

The MOT history for L5 XNG shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L5 XNG 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 L5 XNG. 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.