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R242 GCL

1998 Mazda Bongo

White Diesel 2490cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 May 2027
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

284,812 mi
Last recorded284,812 miles
Recorded on10 Apr 2026
Typical for 1998 Mazda Bongo125,789 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

RegistrationR242 GCL
MakeMazda
ModelBongo
Year1998
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 9 fail
Pass 10 Apr 2026 284,812 miles

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

Fail 26 Mar 2026 284,751 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 24 Apr 2025 283,989 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2025 283,905 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 10 May 2024 282,646 miles
Fail 3 May 2024 282,624 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 26 Apr 2023 279,182 miles

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

handbrake has a lot of travel

Fail 18 Apr 2023 279,180 miles

Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis/under inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

handbrake has a lot of travel

Pass 5 May 2022 272,887 miles

Coil spring corroded all four (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Jan 2021 266,732 miles

Coil spring corroded all four (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

both inner sills corroded, but not within prescribed areas

radiator mounting cross member corroded

Fail 21 Jan 2021 266,732 miles

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

Coil spring corroded all four (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

both inner sills corroded, but not within prescribed areas

radiator mounting cross member corroded

Pass 21 Jan 2020 257,425 miles

Coil spring corroded all four (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

front cross member corroded

Pass 23 Jan 2019 250,937 miles

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

Coil spring corroded all four (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

front crossmember slightly corroded

Fail 21 Jan 2019 250,937 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Coil spring corroded all four (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

front crossmember slightly corroded

Pass 19 Dec 2017 246,373 miles

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

Nearside 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)

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

Offside Front 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)

Slight corrosion front crossmember

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

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

Pass 5 Dec 2016 238,015 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 4 Dec 2015 229,742 miles

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

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

Fail 1 Dec 2015 229,742 miles

Nearside Body or chassis has an unsatisfactory modification, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings sill (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Offside Body or chassis has an unsatisfactory modification, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings sill (6.1.B.2)

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

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 15 Nov 2014 217,695 miles

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

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

Fail 11 Nov 2014 217,695 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

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

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

Pass 26 Oct 2013 203,986 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 20 Mar 2012 177,394 miles

Front brake discs slightly worn and corroded on inner edges

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Rear brake pads approx 60% worn

Rear exhaust rubber mountings slightly deteriorated

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

Pass 5 May 2011 163,569 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 29 Jun 2010 151,393 miles

REAR SEAT FOLDED DOWN AS BED, NO SEATBELT TEST NEEDED

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

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

Pass 1 Jul 2009 131,570 miles

Centre exhaust corroded

Slight play to rear wheel bearings

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

Pass 25 Jun 2008 115,228 miles

Front tyres worn low on inner edges

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

Fail 25 Jun 2008 115,228 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Front tyres worn low on inner edges

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

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

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

Pass 6 Jul 2007 106,102 miles

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

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R242 GCL is a 1998 Mazda Bongo in White with a 2,490cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

Across all 1998 Mazda Bongo models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.1% with a typical mileage of 125,789 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 R242 GCL, 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 28 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 R242 GCL?

You can check the full history of R242 GCL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R242 GCL registered?

R242 GCL is a 1998 Mazda Bongo, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R242 GCL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R242 GCL shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R242 GCL 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 R242 GCL. 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.