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P281 VGP

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 Jul 2026
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

69,175 mi
Last recorded69,175 miles
Recorded on1 Aug 2025
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP281 VGP
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

20 pass 7 fail
Pass 1 Aug 2025 69,175 miles
Fail 30 Jul 2025 69,141 miles

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

Pass 21 Jun 2024 69,015 miles
Pass 22 Jun 2023 68,933 miles
Fail 3 Jun 2023 68,921 miles

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Pass 27 Apr 2022 68,295 miles
Pass 18 May 2021 67,478 miles
Pass 25 May 2020 67,166 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2019 65,658 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2018 63,397 miles

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

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

various covers fitted obscuring components

Pass 17 Feb 2017 63,133 miles

Oil leak ()

Pass 2 Mar 2016 62,979 miles
Fail 2 Mar 2016 62,979 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 9 Mar 2015 62,809 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

rear suspension cross member has surface corrosion

Fail 5 Mar 2015 62,809 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

rear suspension cross member has surface corrosion

Pass 3 Feb 2014 62,661 miles
Fail 3 Feb 2014 62,661 miles

An item not tested (Manual)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 18 Feb 2013 62,413 miles
Pass 3 Feb 2012 62,158 miles

all brake hose ferrules corroded.

front and rear sub frames corroded

front and rear upper and lower suspension arms corroded

hand brake has little reserve travel.

o/s/r tyre at 2mm

Pass 16 Feb 2011 61,856 miles

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

general surface corrosion to- front subframe front suspension arms rear subframe rear suspension arms

Pass 22 Feb 2010 60,910 miles

o/s/r tyre worn down to the wear indicators on the centre tread

Fail 19 Feb 2010 60,909 miles

Offside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

o/s/r tyre worn down to the wear indicators on the centre tread

Pass 20 Feb 2009 60,313 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2008 59,828 miles
Pass 22 Feb 2007 58,624 miles
Fail 17 Feb 2007 58,624 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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

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

Pass 3 Feb 2006 56,021 miles

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

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 VGP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

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 VGP, 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 VGP?

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

What year was P281 VGP registered?

P281 VGP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 23 May 1997.

Is P281 VGP safe to buy?

The MOT history for P281 VGP shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P281 VGP 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 VGP. 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.