CarVerify

Free Car Check

P189 SUL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1839cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 May 2027
Tests22 (21 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate95.5%

Mileage

94,459 mi
Last recorded94,459 miles
Recorded on6 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationP189 SUL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
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

21 pass 1 fail
Pass 6 May 2026 94,459 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake pads have been hot

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

Fail 6 May 2026 94,459 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible screw caps wrong wrong colour (0.1 (b))

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

Nearside Rear brake pads have been hot

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

Pass 1 May 2025 92,984 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 2 May 2024 91,339 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2023 90,213 miles
Pass 10 May 2022 88,981 miles
Pass 5 May 2021 87,451 miles

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

Pass 12 May 2020 86,078 miles
Pass 9 Apr 2019 84,722 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2018 82,587 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2017 81,200 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2016 79,670 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2015 78,034 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2014 76,368 miles

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

Pass 2 Apr 2013 74,918 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2012 73,433 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2011 71,777 miles

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

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

Pass 30 Mar 2010 69,522 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2009 66,775 miles
Pass 14 Apr 2008 62,909 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2007 60,161 miles
Pass 13 Apr 2006 56,945 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P189 SUL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 95.5%.

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 P189 SUL, 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 P189 SUL?

You can check the full history of P189 SUL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P189 SUL registered?

P189 SUL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 22 April 1997.

Is P189 SUL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P189 SUL shows 22 tests with a 95.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P189 SUL 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 P189 SUL. 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.