CarVerify

Free Car Check

P331 FPL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1839cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Jun 2027
Tests26 (19 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate73.1%

Mileage

88,391 mi
Last recorded88,391 miles
Recorded on26 Jun 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
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

RegistrationP331 FPL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
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

19 pass 7 fail
Pass 26 Jun 2026 88,391 miles

daylight use only

Pass 24 Jun 2025 86,917 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2024 85,187 miles

Front Aftermarket headlamps fitted - follows guidelines of beam pattern

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Wheels protruding wheel arches front and rear axle

Pass 10 Jun 2022 79,361 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 26 May 2021 76,354 miles

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

Pass 16 May 2020 74,250 miles

rear outer sills rusting

Pass 1 Jun 2019 73,644 miles

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp does not illuminate (7.1.6 (a))

rear inner wheel arches starting to corrode

surface rust on suspension arms

Fail 25 May 2019 73,630 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp does not illuminate (7.1.6 (a))

rear inner wheel arches starting to corrode

surface rust on suspension arms

Pass 14 Aug 2017 72,574 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2016 71,747 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2016 71,653 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Pass 27 Aug 2015 69,857 miles
Fail 27 Aug 2015 69,857 miles

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

Pass 17 Mar 2015 68,853 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2014 67,760 miles

chip in screen, all suspension arms are blistered

Fail 13 Feb 2014 67,760 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

chip in screen, all suspension arms are blistered

Pass 16 Feb 2013 66,731 miles

chip in screen, all suspension arms are blistered, both rear tyres perished, front discs are scored, centre exhaust box blowing, front brake imbalance on limit

Fail 15 Feb 2013 66,731 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

chip in screen, all suspension arms are blistered, both rear tyres perished, front discs are scored, centre exhaust box blowing, front brake imbalance on limit

Pass 16 Feb 2012 65,973 miles

centre exhaust section has slight blow, all suspension arms have corrosion set in, nearside rear tyre perished, chip in screen, wipers clear screen poorly and close to failure

Pass 22 Feb 2011 63,931 miles

underside of vehicle corroded, offside front lower ball joint worn, front discs excessivly corroded and close to faiure, rear discs corroded and close to failure, both rear parking brake readings low

Fail 21 Feb 2011 63,931 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

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

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

underside of vehicle corroded, offside front lower ball joint worn, front discs excessivly corroded and close to faiure, rear discs corroded and close to failure, both rear parking brake readings low

Pass 1 Jul 2008 63,582 miles
Fail 1 Jul 2008 63,582 miles

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

near side front pads are low, near side outer sill is blistered and weak, handbrake readings are low.

Pass 6 Jul 2007 62,927 miles

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

Pass 2 Aug 2006 62,563 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2005 61,261 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

P331 FPL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.1%.

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 P331 FPL, 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 P331 FPL?

You can check the full history of P331 FPL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P331 FPL registered?

P331 FPL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 4 June 1997.

Is P331 FPL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P331 FPL shows 26 tests with a 73.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P331 FPL 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 P331 FPL. 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.