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P281 AYJ

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Jun 2027
Tests17 (15 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate88.2%

Mileage

59,124 mi
Last recorded59,124 miles
Recorded on13 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP281 AYJ
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

15 pass 2 fail
Pass 13 May 2026 59,124 miles

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 6 May 2026 59,123 miles

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 4 Jun 2025 57,603 miles

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

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

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

Pass 10 May 2024 56,467 miles

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

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

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

Pass 9 May 2023 55,279 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin 75% worn (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pass 13 May 2022 53,333 miles
Pass 11 May 2021 51,358 miles

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

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

Pass 18 May 2019 49,197 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing cracking in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 16 May 2018 48,346 miles

front and rear discs corroded

o/s/sill corroded

Pass 10 Apr 2017 48,329 miles
Pass 6 May 2011 48,318 miles
Pass 29 Jun 2009 47,218 miles
Fail 29 Jun 2009 47,218 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 12 Sep 2008 42,861 miles
Pass 11 Jun 2008 42,214 miles
Pass 29 Jun 2007 40,646 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2006 37,437 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

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P281 AYJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 88.2%.

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 P281 AYJ, 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 P281 AYJ?

You can check the full history of P281 AYJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P281 AYJ registered?

P281 AYJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 27 May 1997.

Is P281 AYJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for P281 AYJ shows 17 tests with a 88.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P281 AYJ 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 P281 AYJ. 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.