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P253 AEL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Purple Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Mar 2025
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

155,817 mi
Last recorded155,817 miles
Recorded on15 Feb 2024
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 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

RegistrationP253 AEL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourPurple
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

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 15 Feb 2024 155,817 miles

Headlamp masks fitted at time of test

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

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 1 Mar 2023 151,867 miles

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

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

headlamp masks fitted at time of test

Fail 1 Mar 2023 151,867 miles

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

headlamp masks fitted at time of test

Pass 23 Feb 2022 149,899 miles
Fail 22 Feb 2022 149,899 miles

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

Pass 14 Jan 2021 147,990 miles

Nearside Rear 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))

Offside Front Lower Body panel slightly loose wing (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear wheel arch corroded

Pass 27 Sep 2019 146,710 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Body panel slightly loose wing lower edge (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Fail 22 Jul 2019 146,710 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))

Nearside Rear Body panel corroded and likely to cause injury at wheel arch (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced at outer sill & under vehicle (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced at outer sill & under vehicle (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Body panel slightly loose wing corroded , lower edge adrift (6.2.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 15 May 2018 144,231 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive at sill (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear wheel arch rusty

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive at sill (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear wheel arch rusty

Pass 9 May 2017 136,304 miles
Fail 10 Apr 2017 136,211 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded outer side sill and inner wheel arch (5.2.6)

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

Rear reflector not red in colour (1.5.1d)

Corrosion to both nearside wheel arch and offside rear

Corrosion to underside of vehicle

Front Macpherson strut has slight movement in the upper support bearing assembly both (2.5.B.1b)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake pipe heavily corroded

Offside Rear tyre wearing on inner edge tyre also has a nail in

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Under-trays fitted

Windscreen damaged

Pass 11 Apr 2016 135,185 miles

Brake pipes slightly corroded

Corrosion to body of vehicle

Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment both (2.5.A.1c)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front tyre cracking advise replacing soon

Offside Rear tyre wearing on inner edge

Slight oil leak

Some corrosion to underside of vehicle

Suspension components corroded

Under-trays fitted

Fail 4 Apr 2016 135,094 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Brake pipes slightly corroded

Corrosion to body of vehicle

Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment both (2.5.A.1c)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front tyre cracking advise replacing soon

Offside Rear tyre wearing on inner edge

Slight oil leak

Some corrosion to underside of vehicle

Suspension components corroded

Under-trays fitted

Pass 16 Apr 2015 133,151 miles

Both front tryes cracking

Both rear sills rusted at rear

Both rear tyres cracking

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 14 Apr 2014 126,295 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2013 121,137 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2012 117,142 miles
Fail 5 Apr 2012 117,137 miles

Nearside Rear rear brake juddering severely (3.7.A.5b)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Pass 12 Apr 2011 111,364 miles
Fail 11 Apr 2011 111,351 miles

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Pass 31 Mar 2010 106,410 miles

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

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

front and rear suspention going rusty

o/s/f shock absorber dust cover split

Fail 31 Mar 2010 106,410 miles

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

front and rear suspention going rusty

o/s/f shock absorber dust cover split

Pass 6 Apr 2009 100,040 miles

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

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

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

Fail 6 Apr 2009 100,038 miles

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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)

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

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

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

n/s/f tyre perised

Pass 7 Apr 2008 89,901 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Apr 2007 79,780 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Apr 2006 69,923 miles
Fail 11 Apr 2006 69,923 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively scored (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc excessively scored (3.5.1h)

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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P253 AEL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Purple with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

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 P253 AEL, 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 P253 AEL?

You can check the full history of P253 AEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P253 AEL registered?

P253 AEL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 11 April 1997.

Is P253 AEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P253 AEL shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P253 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 P253 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.