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P486 XAA

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Nov 2026
Tests20 (17 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate85%

Mileage

137,809 mi
Last recorded137,809 miles
Recorded on2 Nov 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP486 XAA
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

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

17 pass 3 fail
Pass 2 Nov 2025 137,809 miles
Pass 23 Feb 2024 116,389 miles

rear sills near drain plugs slight corrosion

Pass 14 Feb 2023 122,232 miles

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

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Rear Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair hand brake needs adjusting soon (1.2.1 (c))

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

Pass 24 Feb 2022 112,126 miles

Nearside Front Outer Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing side wall (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 9 Feb 2022 112,118 miles

Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn both sides (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Front Service brake excessively fluctuating both sides (1.2.1 (e))

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Rear Service brake lagging in operation both sides (1.2.1 (d))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Road wheel more than one fixing loose (5.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Road wheel more than one fixing loose (5.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Rear Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair both sides (1.2.1 (c))

Pass 26 Mar 2021 111,735 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Fail 25 Mar 2021 111,735 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 24 Mar 2020 106,216 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material inner wheel arch (1.1.11 (c))

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

near side rear outer sill corroded but not excessive

offside rear outer sill corroded but not excessive

Fail 23 Mar 2020 106,214 miles

Nearside Front Hydraulic brake calliper leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))

Offside Front Hydraulic brake calliper leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material inner wheel arch (1.1.11 (c))

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

near side rear outer sill corroded but not excessive

offside rear outer sill corroded but not excessive

Pass 21 Mar 2019 98,120 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 22 Mar 2018 90,830 miles
Pass 28 Mar 2017 86,451 miles

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

Pass 1 May 2014 86,389 miles

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

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

Pass 30 Mar 2012 86,169 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2011 85,283 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2010 84,821 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2009 83,877 miles
Pass 28 Mar 2008 82,802 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2007 80,900 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2006 78,883 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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P486 XAA is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 85%.

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 P486 XAA, 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 P486 XAA?

You can check the full history of P486 XAA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P486 XAA registered?

P486 XAA is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 February 1997.

Is P486 XAA safe to buy?

The MOT history for P486 XAA shows 20 tests with a 85% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P486 XAA 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 P486 XAA. 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.