CarVerify

Free Car Check

P301 AEL

1997 Mazda MX-5

White Petrol 1839cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Jun 2026
Tests20 (15 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

85,600 mi
Last recorded85,600 miles
Recorded on13 Jun 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
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

RegistrationP301 AEL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourWhite
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 5 fail
Pass 13 Jun 2025 85,600 miles
Pass 4 May 2022 85,026 miles
Pass 2 May 2019 82,678 miles
Fail 2 May 2019 82,678 miles

Front Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

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

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

Pass 29 Sep 2018 82,039 miles
Fail 29 Sep 2018 82,039 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the left (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 20 May 2017 78,288 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2016 70,998 miles
Pass 28 Nov 2014 70,177 miles

Centre Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Fail 27 Nov 2014 70,173 miles

Front registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Centre Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

both rear tyres getting low

Fail 28 May 2013 62,636 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

both front tyres perished and cracked in tread

o/s front tyre worn heavy on inside edge

Pass 28 May 2013 62,636 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

both front tyres perished and cracked in tread

o/s front tyre worn heavy on inside edge

Pass 31 May 2012 57,598 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2011 53,479 miles
Fail 3 Jun 2011 53,479 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Pass 29 May 2010 46,126 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2009 45,393 miles

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

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

Pass 9 Jul 2008 44,406 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2007 43,061 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2006 41,916 miles

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)

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

coolant leaking

front number plate cracked

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

P301 AEL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in White with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 P301 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 P301 AEL?

You can check the full history of P301 AEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P301 AEL registered?

P301 AEL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 11 April 1997.

Is P301 AEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P301 AEL shows 20 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P301 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 P301 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.