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P181 AEL

1997 Mazda MX-3

Black Petrol 1845cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Aug 2026
Tests19 (18 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate94.7%

Mileage

55,419 mi
Last recorded55,419 miles
Recorded on9 Aug 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-386,688 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP181 AEL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-3
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,845cc

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

18 pass 1 fail
Pass 9 Aug 2025 55,419 miles

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 5 Feb 2024 54,814 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2023 54,283 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced SILL (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced SILL (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 25 Nov 2021 53,036 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 9 Nov 2020 49,327 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 29 Jul 2019 48,621 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2018 46,290 miles

Offside Rear tyre wearing on inner edge

Pass 26 Jun 2017 44,230 miles

both front tyres wearing on inner edges

centre and rear exhaust deteriorated

offside rear tyre worn on inner edge

Pass 25 Jul 2016 39,359 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2015 32,873 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2014 25,445 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2013 23,201 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2012 22,983 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2011 22,773 miles
Pass 22 Jul 2010 21,919 miles

front tyres worn on edges

Pass 29 Jul 2009 20,870 miles

Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 6 Sep 2007 20,479 miles
Fail 6 Sep 2007 20,479 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)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Pass 14 Sep 2006 20,132 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

wipers a bit smeary

How Reliable is the Mazda MX-3?

Based on 67,760 MOT tests across 8,694 vehicles.

63.9%
Pass Rate
4,237
Miles/Year
35
Year Lifespan
8,694
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 4,172
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4,102
constant velocity joint gaiter split 3,642
Brake pipe excessively corroded 3,510
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2,968
Full Mazda MX-3 reliability report

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P181 AEL is a 1997 Mazda MX-3 in Black with a 1,845cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 94.7%.

Across all 1997 Mazda MX-3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 64.6% with a typical mileage of 86,688 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mazda MX-3 fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 4,172 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P181 AEL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda MX-3 typically stays on UK roads for around 35 years. At 29 years old, this Mazda MX-3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P181 AEL?

You can check the full history of P181 AEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P181 AEL registered?

P181 AEL is a 1997 Mazda MX-3, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P181 AEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P181 AEL shows 19 tests with a 94.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P181 AEL 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 P181 AEL. 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.