CarVerify

Free Car Check

P202 JVP

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Mar 2027
Tests27 (21 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

123,551 mi
Last recorded123,551 miles
Recorded on30 Mar 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP202 JVP
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

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 6 fail
Pass 30 Mar 2026 123,551 miles

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

Fail 18 Mar 2026 123,528 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Pass 24 Mar 2025 123,133 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 26 Mar 2024 122,864 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 1 Mar 2023 122,825 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2022 122,655 miles
Fail 21 Mar 2022 122,654 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 24 Mar 2021 122,561 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2020 122,364 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2020 122,364 miles

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 7 Mar 2019 122,232 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2018 121,990 miles
Pass 17 Mar 2017 121,475 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2016 120,918 miles
Fail 16 Mar 2016 120,918 miles

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

Pass 17 Mar 2015 120,247 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2014 119,472 miles
Fail 6 Mar 2014 119,469 miles

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

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

Pass 13 Feb 2013 116,435 miles

Offside Rear coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 29 Feb 2012 112,459 miles
Pass 23 Feb 2011 108,349 miles
Pass 17 Feb 2010 103,597 miles

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

Pass 5 Mar 2009 98,950 miles
Pass 3 Jan 2008 93,978 miles
Pass 4 Jan 2007 88,070 miles
Fail 4 Jan 2007 88,069 miles

Offside Front Road wheel bead rim badly distorted (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 5 Jan 2006 81,706 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

P202 JVP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 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 P202 JVP, 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 P202 JVP?

You can check the full history of P202 JVP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P202 JVP registered?

P202 JVP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 17 January 1997.

Is P202 JVP safe to buy?

The MOT history for P202 JVP shows 27 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P202 JVP 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 P202 JVP. 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.