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P481 GNN

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 May 2027
Tests25 (21 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate84%

Mileage

135,849 mi
Last recorded135,849 miles
Recorded on27 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP481 GNN
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

21 pass 4 fail
Pass 27 Apr 2026 135,849 miles

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 Lower wing corroded

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Apr 2025 134,988 miles

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 Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced outer sill and lower of front wing (6.1.1 (c) (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))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Apr 2024 134,234 miles

Nearside Front Lower Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (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 Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (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))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 3 May 2023 133,702 miles

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))

Nearside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Lower Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (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))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 5 Apr 2022 132,518 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Under tray fitted at time of test.

Fail 4 Apr 2022 132,518 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Under tray fitted at time of test.

Pass 21 Apr 2021 130,791 miles

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

Pass 31 Mar 2020 129,987 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 26 Apr 2019 127,752 miles

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both rear sills and rear arches (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 3 Apr 2018 125,566 miles

Oil leak ()

Pass 10 Apr 2017 124,305 miles

Oil leak ()

Fail 7 Apr 2017 124,304 miles

Emissions not tested (7.3.A.1)

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

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

Offside Front Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (2.4.A.3)

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

Oil leak ()

Pass 1 Apr 2016 121,749 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2015 117,573 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2014 114,528 miles
Pass 18 Apr 2013 110,868 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2012 107,636 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2011 103,131 miles
Fail 14 Apr 2011 103,128 miles

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

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

Pass 6 Apr 2010 98,832 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2009 95,909 miles
Pass 18 Apr 2008 92,292 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2008 92,289 miles

Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Pass 17 Apr 2007 87,742 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2006 82,158 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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P481 GNN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84%.

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 P481 GNN, 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 P481 GNN?

You can check the full history of P481 GNN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P481 GNN registered?

P481 GNN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 30 April 1997.

Is P481 GNN safe to buy?

The MOT history for P481 GNN shows 25 tests with a 84% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P481 GNN 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 P481 GNN. 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.