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R290 TWE

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Aug 2027
Tests26 (20 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

105,107 mi
Last recorded105,107 miles
Recorded on5 Aug 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR290 TWE
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

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

20 pass 6 fail
Pass 5 Aug 2026 105,107 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2025 104,377 miles
Fail 1 Aug 2025 104,371 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

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

Pass 6 Aug 2024 101,376 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2023 100,502 miles

Offside Front Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 5 Aug 2022 98,907 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2021 97,391 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

car under sealed also brake pipes

under trays fitted

Fail 28 Jul 2021 97,391 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Rear Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

car under sealed also brake pipes

under trays fitted

Pass 6 Aug 2020 95,901 miles

under car has been under sealed[ brake pipes]

under trays fitted

Fail 29 Jul 2020 95,900 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

under car has been under sealed[ brake pipes]

under trays fitted

Pass 11 Mar 2019 93,202 miles

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

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Pass 9 Apr 2018 92,158 miles
Pass 6 Mar 2017 92,013 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2016 91,708 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2015 91,298 miles
Pass 14 May 2013 91,221 miles
Pass 14 May 2012 89,922 miles
Fail 14 May 2012 89,920 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 19 May 2011 88,601 miles

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

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 13 May 2010 86,216 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Oil leak

Pass 12 Jun 2009 81,864 miles

under body conponents corroded

Fail 1 Jun 2009 81,853 miles

Nearside Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

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

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

under body conponents corroded

Pass 22 Feb 2008 81,397 miles

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 19 Feb 2007 78,368 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2006 73,472 miles
Fail 27 Feb 2006 73,471 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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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R290 TWE is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 R290 TWE, 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 R290 TWE?

You can check the full history of R290 TWE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R290 TWE registered?

R290 TWE is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 14 August 1997.

Is R290 TWE safe to buy?

The MOT history for R290 TWE shows 26 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R290 TWE 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 R290 TWE. 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.