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P542 BBC

1996 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires21 Apr 2026
Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

132,550 mi
Last recorded132,550 miles
Recorded on22 Apr 2025
Typical for 1996 Mazda MX-586,097 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP542 BBC
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1996
ColourGreen
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

20 pass 10 fail
Pass 22 Apr 2025 132,550 miles

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

Driver's view to the front outside the swept area of the windscreen wipers restricted by an obstruction (3.1 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Pipes Into Joiner Block (1.1.11 (c))

Suspension Arms Have Areas Of Surface Corrosion

Fail 8 Apr 2025 132,545 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Inner Sill/Floor Corroded And Holed (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Driver's view to the front outside the swept area of the windscreen wipers restricted by an obstruction (3.1 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Pipes Into Joiner Block (1.1.11 (c))

Suspension Arms Have Areas Of Surface Corrosion

Pass 4 Apr 2024 131,013 miles

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

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

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

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

Suspension Arms Have Areas Of Surface Corrosion

Pass 4 Apr 2023 126,459 miles

Suspension Arms Have Surface Corrosion

Fail 28 Mar 2023 126,453 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Sill/Floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear fog lamp does not emit a steady red light Light White (4.5.4 (a))

Suspension Arms Have Surface Corrosion

Pass 7 Apr 2022 119,692 miles

Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement All Link Rod Bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

Fail 28 Mar 2022 118,692 miles

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

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Tail Box Blowing (6.1.2 (a))

Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement All Link Rod Bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Pipe Joint (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2021 114,866 miles

Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement All Link Bushes Perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 22 Mar 2021 114,864 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Floor Near Seat Mounting (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement All Link Bushes Perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Suspension Has Multiple Areas Of Corrosion

Pass 26 Mar 2020 110,998 miles
Fail 16 Mar 2020 110,981 miles

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

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

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

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 12 Mar 2019 109,967 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2018 106,048 miles
Fail 7 Mar 2018 106,048 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Outer Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure (2.4.G.1)

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 1 Mar 2017 103,767 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2016 95,595 miles

rear suspension arms rusting both sides

Pass 3 Mar 2015 91,891 miles

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

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

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 3 Mar 2015 91,891 miles

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

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 28 Feb 2014 88,864 miles

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 28 Feb 2014 88,864 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 5 Mar 2013 84,702 miles

Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 15 Mar 2012 81,051 miles

Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Outer Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 22 Mar 2011 79,109 miles

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 18 Mar 2010 75,731 miles

Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 16 Mar 2009 73,550 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 16 Mar 2009 73,550 miles

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 19 Mar 2008 69,785 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2007 65,533 miles
Fail 14 Mar 2007 65,533 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Pass 21 Mar 2006 59,205 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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P542 BBC is a 1996 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

Across all 1996 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.8% with a typical mileage of 86,097 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 P542 BBC, 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 30 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 P542 BBC?

You can check the full history of P542 BBC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P542 BBC registered?

P542 BBC is a 1996 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 5 September 1996.

Is P542 BBC safe to buy?

The MOT history for P542 BBC shows 30 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 P542 BBC 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 P542 BBC. 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.