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P502 ALJ

1997 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires19 Feb 2026
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

139,257 mi
Last recorded139,257 miles
Recorded on20 Feb 2025
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

RegistrationP502 ALJ
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourSilver
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

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 20 Feb 2025 139,257 miles

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced underneath in scattered areas (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 20 Feb 2025 139,257 miles

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced underneath in scattered areas (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Pass 8 Dec 2023 137,080 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

slight rust under car

Pass 28 Nov 2022 134,794 miles

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

slight rust under car

Pass 25 Nov 2021 127,839 miles

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

slight rust

Pass 13 Oct 2020 113,895 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2020 113,807 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Pass 22 Sep 2019 105,701 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both front pipes starting to corrode (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened all front and rear arms corroded (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 25 Mar 2017 91,609 miles

Nearside Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. front brake lower effort (3.7.B.5b)

Fail 25 Mar 2017 91,601 miles

Steering rack insecure (2.2.B.1a)

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

Nearside Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. front brake lower effort (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 26 Mar 2016 78,183 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2015 72,281 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2014 69,495 miles

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

Nearside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

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

front and rear brake discs are corroded

Pass 18 Jun 2013 66,391 miles
Fail 17 Jun 2013 66,389 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 Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 21 Jun 2012 63,163 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 16 Jun 2011 59,046 miles

Nearside Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

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

brake discs rusting

Pass 28 Apr 2010 55,533 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2009 49,402 miles

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

Pass 26 Apr 2008 43,513 miles
Pass 3 May 2007 40,774 miles

engine overheating

Pass 18 Apr 2006 40,293 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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P502 ALJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

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 P502 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 P502 ALJ?

You can check the full history of P502 ALJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P502 ALJ registered?

P502 ALJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 28 February 1997.

Is P502 ALJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for P502 ALJ shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P502 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 P502 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.