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P83 SWS

1996 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires7 Jul 2026
Tests19 (13 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate68.4%

Mileage

90,844 mi
Last recorded90,844 miles
Recorded on8 Jul 2025
Typical for 1996 Mazda MX-586,097 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP83 SWS
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1996
ColourBlack
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

13 pass 6 fail
Pass 8 Jul 2025 90,844 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill/suspension mounting/seat belt anchorage (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Outer Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill/suspension mounting/seat belt anchorage (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill/suspension mounting/seat belt anchorage (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill/suspension mounting/seat belt anchorage (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

surface corrosion throughout under side

Fail 5 Jun 2025 90,835 miles

Brake fluid significantly below minimum mark (1.1.10 (d) (ii))

Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened All discs (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Coil spring corroded All springs (5.3.1 (b) (i))

General under vehicle corrosion

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Both sills (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both front tyres worn on edges (5.2.3 (e))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both rear tyres worn on edges (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 20 Oct 2023 85,239 miles

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

Fail 6 Oct 2023 84,943 miles

Front Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

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

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

Pass 4 Oct 2022 75,727 miles
Fail 3 Oct 2022 75,717 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

Fail 18 Jan 2018 75,673 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Front tyre treads perished (both)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Pass 20 Oct 2014 74,100 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Fail 16 Oct 2014 74,068 miles

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

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Pass 16 Oct 2013 72,802 miles

All steering and suspension componants corroded.

O/S Park brake much lower effort than N/S

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 1 Oct 2012 71,245 miles

All steering, suspension and braking componants corroded.

O/S Park brake much lower effort than N/S.

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 24 Sep 2012 71,218 miles

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

All steering, suspension and braking componants corroded.

O/S Park brake much lower effort than N/S.

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 19 Oct 2011 69,598 miles

All steering, suspension and braking componants corroded.

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

Pass 19 Oct 2010 67,609 miles

All front steering, Braking and suapension componants corroded.

Pass 13 Oct 2009 65,226 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2008 62,075 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2007 59,876 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2006 56,299 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2005 52,696 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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P83 SWS is a 1996 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.4%.

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 P83 SWS, 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 P83 SWS?

You can check the full history of P83 SWS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P83 SWS registered?

P83 SWS is a 1996 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 October 1996.

Is P83 SWS safe to buy?

The MOT history for P83 SWS shows 19 tests with a 68.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P83 SWS 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 P83 SWS. 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.