CarVerify

Free Car Check

P492 ALJ

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1839cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Apr 2027
Tests27 (19 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate70.4%

Mileage

75,021 mi
Last recorded75,021 miles
Recorded on30 Apr 2026
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
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

RegistrationP492 ALJ
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

19 pass 8 fail
Pass 30 Apr 2026 75,021 miles

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Window damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view stone chip (3.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 1 May 2025 74,250 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 18 Apr 2024 73,370 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2024 73,370 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 26 Apr 2023 72,592 miles

Corrosion to rear underside of vehicle

Fail 26 Apr 2023 72,592 miles

Central Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Corrosion to rear underside of vehicle

Pass 27 Apr 2022 72,327 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2020 72,190 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 25 Apr 2019 70,949 miles
Pass 3 Oct 2017 67,653 miles

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

Fail 2 Oct 2017 67,653 miles

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

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

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

Pass 12 Oct 2016 65,556 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2015 63,523 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2014 60,997 miles

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

Pass 11 Oct 2013 59,494 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2013 59,347 miles

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 13 Sep 2012 57,247 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

o/s/r end section of body sill corroded and holed

steering wheel cover starting to come away

Pass 13 Sep 2011 54,681 miles
Fail 13 Sep 2011 54,681 miles

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

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

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Fail 14 Sep 2010 50,601 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 14 Sep 2010 50,601 miles
Pass 12 Sep 2009 47,800 miles

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

Pass 13 Sep 2008 45,129 miles
Fail 6 Sep 2008 45,104 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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

Pass 17 Aug 2007 42,187 miles

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

Fail 10 Aug 2006 40,130 miles

Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Pass 10 Aug 2006 40,130 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

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

P492 ALJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.4%.

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 P492 ALJ, 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 P492 ALJ?

You can check the full history of P492 ALJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P492 ALJ registered?

P492 ALJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 27 February 1997.

Is P492 ALJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for P492 ALJ shows 27 tests with a 70.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P492 ALJ 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 P492 ALJ. 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.