CarVerify

Free Car Check

P473 SUL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires30 Jun 2026
Tests20 (18 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate90%

Mileage

117,177 mi
Last recorded117,177 miles
Recorded on1 Jul 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Above 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

RegistrationP473 SUL
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

18 pass 2 fail
Pass 1 Jul 2025 117,177 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

both front brake hoses ferrules starting to rust

front and rear shock absorbers dust covers starting to deteriorate

front/ rear subframes, front/ rear suspension arms, front suspension coil springs, front/ rear antiroll bars and front suspension struts starting to rust

handbrake performance slightly low

metal fuel pipes starting to rust

offside and nearside rear suspension lower arms bushes starting to split/ wear

slight oil leaks

Pass 23 Aug 2023 113,051 miles

All suspension components corroded but not seriously weakened

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Nov 2021 108,179 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 30 Nov 2020 107,975 miles

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

Rear tyres slightly worn on inner edge

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 15 Jul 2019 107,756 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2018 107,314 miles
Fail 7 Jun 2018 107,314 miles

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Pass 16 Jun 2017 107,016 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2016 106,868 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2015 106,437 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2015 106,437 miles

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)

Pass 12 Jun 2014 105,695 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2013 104,669 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 26 Jun 2012 103,880 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 1 Jul 2011 102,929 miles

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Slight corrosion off side rear cill area

Pass 15 Jun 2010 101,629 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2009 99,447 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 2 Jun 2008 96,318 miles

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

Offside door mirror cracked

Pass 9 Jun 2007 92,314 miles
Pass 24 Jun 2006 86,314 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

P473 SUL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90%.

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 P473 SUL, 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 P473 SUL?

You can check the full history of P473 SUL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P473 SUL registered?

P473 SUL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 2 June 1997.

Is P473 SUL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P473 SUL shows 20 tests with a 90% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P473 SUL 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 P473 SUL. 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.