CarVerify

Free Car Check

P505 PVW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 Mar 2026
Tests27 (18 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

134,386 mi
Last recorded134,386 miles
Recorded on28 Mar 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
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

RegistrationP505 PVW
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

18 pass 9 fail
Pass 28 Mar 2025 134,386 miles

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 21 Apr 2022 131,427 miles

Central Electrical wiring inadequately secured under car (4.11 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Offside parking brake effort low - suggest immediate investigation

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

Fail 14 Apr 2022 131,425 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Central Electrical wiring inadequately secured under car (4.11 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Offside parking brake effort low - suggest immediate investigation

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

Pass 6 Apr 2021 124,520 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2021 124,485 miles

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

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Anti-roll bar insecure and impairing directional stability (5.3.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 3 Mar 2020 116,652 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2019 111,150 miles

Front and rear suspension components corroded.

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Park brake just passed test,it would appear that the brakes require adjustment or repair.

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Sub-frame is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 25 Mar 2019 111,141 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Front and rear suspension components corroded.

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Park brake just passed test,it would appear that the brakes require adjustment or repair.

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Sub-frame is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 13 Mar 2018 103,238 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

key items/areas corroded

Fail 12 Mar 2018 103,238 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

key items/areas corroded

Pass 24 Mar 2017 102,847 miles

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

Pass 15 Mar 2016 100,989 miles

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

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Fail 9 Mar 2016 100,867 miles

Offside Rear Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded sill/floor area (5.2.6)

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

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

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Rear Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.2.6)

Fail 12 Mar 2015 92,586 miles

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

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

both front tyre perished/cracking

slight corrosion on nearside and offside outer sills

Pass 12 Mar 2015 92,586 miles

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

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

both front tyre perished/cracking

slight corrosion on nearside and offside outer sills

Pass 13 Mar 2014 84,124 miles

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

Pass 19 Mar 2013 72,315 miles

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

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

Fail 19 Mar 2013 72,315 miles

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

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

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

Pass 29 Mar 2012 65,249 miles

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 22 Oct 2010 58,091 miles
Fail 26 Sep 2009 50,827 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 26 Sep 2009 50,827 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 19 Sep 2008 39,166 miles

Nearside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 27 Sep 2007 38,267 miles
Fail 27 Sep 2007 38,267 miles

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

Pass 11 Sep 2006 37,889 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2005 37,251 miles

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

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

P505 PVW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 P505 PVW, 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 P505 PVW?

You can check the full history of P505 PVW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P505 PVW registered?

P505 PVW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 14 April 1997.

Is P505 PVW safe to buy?

The MOT history for P505 PVW shows 27 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P505 PVW 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 P505 PVW. 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.