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P503 SUL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Nov 2026
Tests29 (19 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate65.5%

Mileage

120,440 mi
Last recorded120,440 miles
Recorded on24 Nov 2025
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

RegistrationP503 SUL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
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

19 pass 10 fail
Pass 24 Nov 2025 120,440 miles

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

Fail 19 Nov 2025 120,440 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Lower Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner sill / floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Pass 12 Nov 2024 119,106 miles
Fail 13 Sep 2024 119,085 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Headlamp aim too low both (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Lower Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Windscreen wiper blade defective both (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 15 Sep 2023 118,050 miles

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 15 Sep 2023 118,050 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded rear pipe across subframe to o/s/r (1.1.11 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 8 Aug 2022 116,959 miles

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 5 Aug 2022 116,959 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Headlamp aim too low both (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

engine overheating

Pass 8 Jul 2021 115,211 miles

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

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

Pass 4 Jun 2020 113,806 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area damaged but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

all suspension componants corroded

arears of underbody undersealed

areas of underbody corroded

front to rear brake pipe rusted in brackets and above rear axle

Fail 3 Jun 2020 113,806 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded by clutch slave cylinder (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area damaged but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

all suspension componants corroded

arears of underbody undersealed

areas of underbody corroded

front to rear brake pipe rusted in brackets and above rear axle

Pass 15 May 2019 111,605 miles

brake pipe above rear axle corroded

brake pipes to front flex hoses corroded

inner sills corroded

some areas of underbody corroded

suspension components corroded

underbody has been undersealed

Pass 24 May 2018 110,438 miles

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

inner sills corroded

most suspension components rusty

rear brake pipe above sub frame corroded

some areas of underbody corroded

Fail 23 May 2018 110,437 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded by second undertray (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

inner sills corroded

most suspension components rusty

rear brake pipe above sub frame corroded

some areas of underbody corroded

Pass 25 May 2017 106,497 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2016 105,716 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 23 Jun 2016 105,715 miles

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

Offside Service brake is causing the vehicle to swerve to the offside (3.7.C.2)

Fail 4 Jun 2016 105,715 miles

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

Nearside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Offside Body has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

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

Fail 8 Apr 2016 105,707 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded frt to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside Front slight brake bind

Pass 7 Jul 2014 103,805 miles

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

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

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

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

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

o/s/f wing corroded

vehicle heavily undersealed

Pass 3 Jul 2013 99,340 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2012 98,046 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2011 94,476 miles

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

Pass 19 Jul 2010 94,237 miles

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

Pass 15 Jul 2009 92,301 miles

offside lower outer sill @ rear staring to corrode

rear no.plate starting to fade

Fail 13 Jul 2009 92,298 miles

Offside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

offside lower outer sill @ rear staring to corrode

rear no.plate starting to fade

Pass 14 Jul 2008 91,461 miles

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

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

all brake disc inner faces corroded/not excessive

Pass 18 Jul 2007 88,386 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2006 85,863 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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P503 SUL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.5%.

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 P503 SUL, 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 P503 SUL?

You can check the full history of P503 SUL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P503 SUL registered?

P503 SUL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 12 June 1997.

Is P503 SUL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P503 SUL shows 29 tests with a 65.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P503 SUL 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 P503 SUL. 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.