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P481 MDB

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires29 May 2014
Tests13 (9 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

149,090 mi
Last recorded149,090 miles
Recorded on30 May 2013
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP481 MDB
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

9 pass 4 fail
Pass 30 May 2013 149,090 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Oil leak

Fail 24 May 2013 149,090 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Oil leak

Pass 18 Apr 2012 141,924 miles

Headlamps stuck in upright position.

NSR handbrake lever not returning.

Pass 6 May 2011 140,817 miles
Fail 4 May 2011 140,817 miles

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

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

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

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Pass 29 Apr 2010 137,790 miles

rear sills repaired

streering feels very heavy

Fail 29 Apr 2010 127,790 miles

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

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

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

rear sills repaired

streering feels very heavy

Pass 23 Apr 2009 138,123 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2009 138,123 miles

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

Offside Front Steering system excessively tight (2.2.D.1)

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

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

Pass 22 Apr 2008 133,144 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2007 129,189 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2006 124,870 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2005 119,962 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 MDB is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

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 P481 MDB, 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 MDB?

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

What year was P481 MDB registered?

P481 MDB is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 6 June 1997.

Is P481 MDB safe to buy?

The MOT history for P481 MDB shows 13 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P481 MDB 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 MDB. 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.