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N174 FBW

1996 Mazda MX-5

Blue Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 May 2027
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

130,373 mi
Last recorded130,373 miles
Recorded on16 Apr 2026
Typical for 1996 Mazda MX-586,097 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

RegistrationN174 FBW
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1996
ColourBlue
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

19 pass 9 fail
Pass 16 Apr 2026 130,373 miles

Nearside Front Lower Body panel slightly loose Lower wing panel fixings corroded but no sharp edges or likely to become detached (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is repaired but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill corroded around previous repairs but not seriously weakening structure (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is repaired but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill corroded around previous repairs but not seriously weakening structure (6.1.1 (d) (i))

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

Pass 15 May 2025 120,195 miles

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

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

Fail 10 May 2025 119,963 miles

Driver's airbag missing (7.1.5 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp does not illuminate (7.1.6 (a))

Pass 16 May 2024 107,162 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

front and rear suspension heavily corroded

Fail 16 May 2024 107,162 miles

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

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

front and rear suspension heavily corroded

Pass 16 May 2023 107,147 miles

Front and rear suspension corroded heavily

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

Pass 29 Sep 2022 107,137 miles

Front and rear suspension heavily corroded

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

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

Pass 24 Aug 2021 107,114 miles

Front and rear suspension corroded

Pass 24 Sep 2020 107,034 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Rear coil springs corroded

front and rear suspension heavily corroded

Fail 23 Sep 2020 107,034 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Rear coil springs corroded

front and rear suspension heavily corroded

Pass 4 Apr 2019 106,976 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material rear offside to nearside (1.1.11 (c))

Coil spring corroded rear nearside and offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 18 Apr 2018 106,784 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear pipe (3.6.B.2c)

Brake pipe slightly corroded rear offside to rear nearside pipe (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Oil leak ()

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

Rear coil spring corroded both (2.4.C.1b)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 16 Apr 2018 106,784 miles

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

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

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

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

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear pipe (3.6.B.2c)

Brake pipe slightly corroded rear offside to rear nearside pipe (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Oil leak ()

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

Rear coil spring corroded both (2.4.C.1b)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 11 Apr 2017 106,715 miles

Oil leak ()

Rear Inner sills corroded

Fail 11 Apr 2017 106,712 miles

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

Oil leak ()

Rear Inner sills corroded

Pass 18 Apr 2016 106,441 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Vehicle structure has slight corrosion sill (6.1.A.1)

corrosion to suspension parts

Pass 30 Mar 2015 105,895 miles

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

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 30 Mar 2015 105,895 miles

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

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

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 3 Apr 2014 105,641 miles

Centre Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

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

Pass 25 Mar 2013 104,421 miles

Corrosion n/s/f metal brake pipe

Exhaust deteriorating

Fail 22 Mar 2013 104,421 miles

Electrical wiring deteriorated and bare connector exposed (1.9.2c)

Electrical wiring inadequately supported (1.9.2a)

Nearside Headlamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.7.5c)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Corrosion n/s/f metal brake pipe

Exhaust deteriorating

Pass 21 Mar 2012 103,333 miles
Fail 20 Mar 2012 103,333 miles

Offside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 10 Feb 2011 101,955 miles
Fail 9 Feb 2011 101,955 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Pass 10 Mar 2010 100,612 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 14 Jan 2009 97,819 miles

Nearside Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 7 Nov 2007 84,220 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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N174 FBW is a 1996 Mazda MX-5 in Blue with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

Across all 1996 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.8% with a typical mileage of 86,097 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 N174 FBW, 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 30 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 N174 FBW?

You can check the full history of N174 FBW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N174 FBW registered?

N174 FBW is a 1996 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 13 March 1996.

Is N174 FBW safe to buy?

The MOT history for N174 FBW shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N174 FBW 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 N174 FBW. 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.