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P181 PLN

1997 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1800cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires10 Sep 2026
Tests34 (21 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate61.8%

Mileage

101,528 mi
Last recorded101,528 miles
Recorded on11 Sep 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP181 PLN
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,800cc

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

21 pass 13 fail
Pass 11 Sep 2025 101,528 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened ALL (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 22 Aug 2024 177,043 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

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

Pass 29 Aug 2023 172,764 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 1 Jul 2022 168,804 miles

Brake hose slightly deteriorated all four brake hoses starting to deteriorate (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

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

Pass 17 Jul 2021 164,910 miles

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

Fail 15 Jul 2021 164,862 miles

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

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Pass 8 Jun 2020 160,074 miles
Fail 3 Jun 2020 160,071 miles

Front Registration plate insecure (0.1 (a))

Offside Front Body component corroded and likely to cause injury wing (6.2.1 (a) (i))

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

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 13 Jun 2019 150,705 miles

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

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

Fail 10 Jun 2019 150,705 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 8 Jun 2018 136,635 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords outer wall (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Aug 2017 128,543 miles

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Fail 25 Aug 2017 128,542 miles

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

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Pass 15 May 2017 123,627 miles

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 15 May 2017 123,627 miles

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear fog lamp emits a light other than red (1.3.2e)

Pass 11 Jun 2016 112,932 miles

Stone chip in windscreen, zone B.

Fail 14 Apr 2016 112,562 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

Rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp brake lights (1.3.2f)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

rear parking (secondary) brakes imbalanced (3.7.B.6b)

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

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

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

undertrays fitted

Pass 1 May 2015 108,208 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2015 108,208 miles

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

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

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 12 May 2014 102,920 miles
Fail 9 May 2014 102,920 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

N/s/f Tyre Cracking

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

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

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

Pass 17 May 2013 99,164 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nail in nearside rear tyre

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

O/s/r & N/s/f Tyres Cracking

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Slight Play O/s/f Inner Steering Joint

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

Pass 2 May 2012 94,715 miles

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

front exhaust bracket weak and broken

Fail 2 May 2012 94,715 miles

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

front exhaust bracket weak and broken

Pass 11 May 2011 89,767 miles

both headlight patterns deteriorated

o/s/f tyre inner sidewall started to split

Pass 12 May 2010 85,525 miles
Fail 12 May 2010 85,525 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

front and rear suspension items very rusty

front brake discs discoloured and rusty

interior fog light switch not visable

Pass 22 May 2009 80,413 miles
Fail 19 May 2009 80,368 miles

Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Pass 28 Apr 2008 74,300 miles

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

n/s/r lower outer sill has slight corrosion

o/s/r lower outer sill has slight corrosion

Pass 8 May 2007 68,399 miles
Fail 7 May 2007 68,399 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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)

Pass 2 May 2006 64,557 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

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)

Fail 2 May 2006 64,557 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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)

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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P181 PLN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,800cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.8%.

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 P181 PLN, 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 P181 PLN?

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

What year was P181 PLN registered?

P181 PLN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P181 PLN safe to buy?

The MOT history for P181 PLN shows 34 tests with a 61.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P181 PLN 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 PLN. 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.