CarVerify

Free Car Check

R238 VOD

1997 Mazda Bongo

White Diesel 2490cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Jul 2026
Tests35 (19 pass, 16 fail)
Pass rate54.3%

Mileage

146,495 mi
Last recorded146,495 miles
Recorded on16 Jul 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda Bongo131,832 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR238 VOD
MakeMazda
ModelBongo
Year1997
ColourWhite
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,490cc

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 16 fail
Pass 16 Jul 2025 146,495 miles

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

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

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

Fail 11 Jul 2025 146,449 miles

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

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

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 1 Sep 2024 146,052 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

steering rack bushes worn

Fail 16 Aug 2024 146,052 miles

Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Electrical wiring insecure and connectors likely to become disconnected battery clamp attached to battery positive likely to short circuit to bonnet (4.11 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt split (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated split but preventing the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

steering rack bushes worn

Pass 15 Aug 2023 145,302 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 11 Aug 2023 145,302 miles

Driver's airbag missing Steering wheel (7.1.5 (a))

Headlamp lens seriously defective Severely Deteriorated (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

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

Nearside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

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

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective Deteriorated (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 30 Aug 2022 144,568 miles
Fail 26 Aug 2022 144,568 miles

Offside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength strut tower (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Aug 2021 143,922 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2020 143,550 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis leg (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 26 Aug 2020 143,550 miles

Electrical wiring insecure and connectors likely to become disconnected 3 out of 4 battery terminals loose,and not on the posts properly (4.11 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassis leg (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 16 Aug 2019 142,731 miles

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

Fail 16 Aug 2019 142,731 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended third row (7.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 28 Aug 2018 140,584 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal sill/inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal sill/inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 22 Aug 2018 140,582 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Power steering component leaking rack (2.1.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal sill/inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal sill/inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Aug 2017 138,984 miles

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

Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt both (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Body has slight corrosion sill rusty (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

Oil leak ()

both rear arches rusty

under side rusty both rear inner arch

Fail 18 Aug 2017 138,984 miles

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively both (8.2.2)

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

Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt both (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Body has slight corrosion sill rusty (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

Oil leak ()

both rear arches rusty

under side rusty both rear inner arch

Pass 22 Aug 2016 136,028 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre joint (7.1.2)

Oil leak ()

Power steering ram(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Fail 19 Aug 2016 136,004 miles

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre joint (7.1.2)

Oil leak ()

Power steering ram(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 18 Aug 2015 133,795 miles

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

no drivers airbag fitted

o/s/f outer sill corroded

rear bump stops missing

Pass 20 Aug 2014 132,956 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

both rear bump stops missing

Fail 19 Aug 2014 132,951 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

both rear bump stops missing

o/s centre sill corroded

Pass 21 Aug 2013 131,971 miles

Oil leak

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

o/s outter sill corroded to excess

Fail 21 Aug 2013 131,970 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Oil leak

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

o/s outter sill corroded to excess

Pass 12 Jun 2012 127,842 miles

corrosion on exhaust system including tail pipe

few marks on windscreen none to excess

off side rear outer sill corroded and few areas of surface corrosion none to excess

oil leak around engine compartment

Fail 11 Jun 2012 127,839 miles

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

corrosion on exhaust system including tail pipe

few marks on windscreen none to excess

hand brake could do with some adjustment

off side rear outer sill corroded and few areas of surface corrosion none to excess

oil leak around engine compartment

slight movement in rear drop links

Pass 6 Jun 2011 110,601 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2011 110,601 miles

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 25 Jan 2010 102,583 miles

o/s rear brake disc rusty on outer face

power steering rack damp

slight play in o/s rear antiroll bar link

Pass 26 Jan 2009 93,734 miles

battery insecure

front brake pads well worn

poor service brake pedal feel

two child seats fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belts

Fail 22 Jan 2009 93,734 miles

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

battery insecure

front brake pads well worn

two child seats fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belts

Pass 17 Oct 2007 78,731 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

unable to fully asess condition of rear wheel bearings due to tension in transmission

Fail 2 Oct 2007 78,190 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

Pass 11 Aug 2006 60,452 miles
Fail 7 Aug 2006 60,452 miles

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

How Reliable is the Mazda Bongo?

Based on 251,584 MOT tests across 14,362 vehicles.

67.3%
Pass Rate
5,064
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
14,362
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

fog lamp not working 6,854
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 6,786
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 6,443
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5,607
Registration plate lamp not working 3,890
Full Mazda Bongo 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

R238 VOD is a 1997 Mazda Bongo in White with a 2,490cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 35 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 54.3%.

Across all 1997 Mazda Bongo models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.3% with a typical mileage of 131,832 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 Bongo fails its MOT is fog lamp not working, accounting for 6,854 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R238 VOD, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda Bongo typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 29 years old, this Mazda Bongo is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R238 VOD?

You can check the full history of R238 VOD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R238 VOD registered?

R238 VOD is a 1997 Mazda Bongo, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R238 VOD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R238 VOD shows 35 tests with a 54.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R238 VOD 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 R238 VOD. 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.