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L952 RET

1998 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 Jul 2026
Tests16 (10 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

149,447 mi
Last recorded149,447 miles
Recorded on1 Aug 2025
Typical for 1998 Mazda MX-586,993 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationL952 RET
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1998
ColourRed
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

10 pass 6 fail
Pass 1 Aug 2025 149,447 miles

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Outer Sill slightly corroded

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Sill slightly corroded

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

Pass 5 Jun 2024 148,769 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule All Four (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Sill to wheel arch slightly corroded

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Sill to Wheel arch slightly corroded

Fail 5 Jun 2024 148,769 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule All Four (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Sill to wheel arch slightly corroded

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Sill to Wheel arch slightly corroded

Pass 19 Aug 2013 147,772 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2013 147,772 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 23 Aug 2012 140,328 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 22 Aug 2012 140,326 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 8 Aug 2011 145,507 miles
Fail 4 Aug 2011 145,501 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)

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

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 5 Aug 2010 145,172 miles
Fail 4 Aug 2010 145,170 miles

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

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

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

Pass 13 Jul 2009 144,817 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 16 May 2008 143,731 miles
Fail 15 May 2008 143,724 miles

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

Nearside Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 28 Jun 2007 142,423 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2006 141,210 miles

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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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L952 RET is a 1998 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 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 L952 RET, 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 L952 RET?

You can check the full history of L952 RET by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L952 RET registered?

L952 RET is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 11 March 1998.

Is L952 RET safe to buy?

The MOT history for L952 RET shows 16 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 L952 RET 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 L952 RET. 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.