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P970 XEL

1996 Mazda MX-5

White Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires3 Sep 2026
Tests6 (4 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

44,249 mi
Last recorded44,249 miles
Recorded on4 Sep 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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP970 XEL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1996
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,839cc

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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

4 pass 2 fail
Pass 4 Sep 2025 44,249 miles

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

Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both front wishbones (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged flex pipe slight twisted (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Sub-frame is deformed but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both rear arms corroded (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 27 May 2016 44,198 miles
Fail 25 May 2016 44,198 miles

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

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 17 Jul 2013 44,122 miles
Pass 13 May 2010 44,031 miles
Fail 12 May 2010 44,031 miles

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

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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P970 XEL is a 1996 Mazda MX-5 in White with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 6 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 P970 XEL, 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 P970 XEL?

You can check the full history of P970 XEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P970 XEL registered?

P970 XEL is a 1996 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 30 August 1996.

Is P970 XEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P970 XEL shows 6 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 P970 XEL 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 P970 XEL. 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.