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P478 OET

1997 Mazda MX-5

Blue Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 Jul 2026
Tests22 (14 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

68,344 mi
Last recorded68,344 miles
Recorded on17 Jul 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP478 OET
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,840cc

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

14 pass 8 fail
Pass 17 Jul 2025 68,344 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2021 67,533 miles
Fail 18 Sep 2021 67,529 miles

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Jul 2020 67,319 miles
Fail 27 Jun 2020 67,304 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Apr 2017 65,390 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2016 63,338 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2014 61,169 miles
Fail 17 Oct 2014 61,148 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 26 Oct 2013 58,275 miles

Nearside Front Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Fail 19 Oct 2013 58,271 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Pass 11 Sep 2012 55,112 miles

Nearside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Fail 3 Sep 2012 55,080 miles

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

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

Front registration plate margin less than the minimum requirement (6.3.4g)

Inner Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Fail 2 Apr 2011 62,458 miles

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

Nearside Rear Axle swivel joint insecure in a suspension arm (2.5.A.3b)

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 2 Apr 2011 62,458 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)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 23 Apr 2010 50,495 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2010 50,490 miles

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width (6.3.4a)

Pass 9 Apr 2009 46,146 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

handbrake high

n/s/f tyre worn outside edge

Fail 7 Apr 2009 46,146 miles

Nearside Rear Body has a projection caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

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

Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

handbrake high

n/s/f tyre worn outside edge

Pass 10 Jul 2008 43,919 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2007 40,326 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2006 32,275 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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P478 OET is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Blue with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 P478 OET, 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 P478 OET?

You can check the full history of P478 OET by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P478 OET registered?

P478 OET is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P478 OET safe to buy?

The MOT history for P478 OET shows 22 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P478 OET 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 P478 OET. 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.