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P603 NVW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Sep 2026
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

134,744 mi
Last recorded134,744 miles
Recorded on12 Sep 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

RegistrationP603 NVW
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
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

19 pass 11 fail
Pass 12 Sep 2025 134,744 miles

General underbody corrosion

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

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

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

Pass 24 Sep 2024 134,239 miles

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge all 4 (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 15 Aug 2024 134,042 miles

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

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge All 4 road tyres (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 28 Jul 2023 133,070 miles
Fail 25 Jul 2023 133,064 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Pass 30 Jun 2022 130,423 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2022 130,361 miles

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

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

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

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

Pass 5 May 2021 127,931 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

exhaust system corroded

underside of vehicle corroded

Fail 30 Apr 2021 127,912 miles

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

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.2.1 (b))

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

exhaust system corroded

underside of vehicle corroded

Fail 4 Mar 2021 127,856 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))

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

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

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner cill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner and outer cill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 17 Apr 2019 122,749 miles

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

underside suspension parts

Fail 17 Apr 2019 122,749 miles

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

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

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

underside suspension parts

Pass 28 Jun 2018 122,568 miles

Coolant leak ()

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases middle and rear joints (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Fail 28 Jun 2018 122,568 miles

Coolant leak ()

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases middle and rear joints (6.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

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

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

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

Pass 26 Jul 2017 122,294 miles
Fail 26 Jul 2017 122,294 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 16 Jun 2017 122,097 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner and outer sills (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner and outer sills (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

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

front and rear suspension arms corroded

Pass 16 Jun 2016 118,716 miles

underbodycar rusty

Pass 11 Jun 2015 115,744 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Jun 2014 110,152 miles

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

Pass 9 Jul 2013 105,290 miles
Fail 9 Jul 2013 105,286 miles

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

Pass 22 Jun 2012 100,261 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2011 95,148 miles

both rear brake discs are pitted and worn

Pass 22 Jun 2010 93,907 miles

rear brake discs pitted

Fail 10 Jun 2010 93,904 miles

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

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

rear brake discs pitted

Pass 5 May 2009 84,594 miles

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

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

off side and near side sill slight corrion

Pass 7 May 2008 77,486 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 9 May 2007 67,654 miles
Pass 10 May 2006 57,965 miles

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

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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P603 NVW is a 1997 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 63.3%.

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 P603 NVW, 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 P603 NVW?

You can check the full history of P603 NVW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P603 NVW registered?

P603 NVW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 18 March 1997.

Is P603 NVW safe to buy?

The MOT history for P603 NVW shows 30 tests with a 63.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P603 NVW 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 P603 NVW. 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.