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R303 LHP

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires4 May 2017
Tests20 (11 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate55%

Mileage

137,401 mi
Last recorded137,401 miles
Recorded on22 Apr 2016
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR303 LHP
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,840cc

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

11 pass 9 fail
Pass 22 Apr 2016 137,401 miles
Pass 5 May 2015 128,296 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Fail 16 Mar 2015 127,827 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

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

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

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

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 24 Mar 2014 120,599 miles

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

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

front number plate cracked

Fail 24 Mar 2014 120,599 miles

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

Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

front number plate cracked

Pass 15 Mar 2013 116,161 miles

Centre Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

front indicator damaged.n/s/f tyre perished

Pass 29 Dec 2011 114,022 miles

Centre Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 29 Dec 2011 114,022 miles

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

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Pass 30 Nov 2010 109,991 miles
Fail 30 Nov 2010 109,991 miles

Centre Front Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' (8.3.1b)

Pass 10 Nov 2009 105,632 miles
Fail 9 Nov 2009 105,632 miles

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 27 Oct 2008 97,847 miles

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

knocking from exhaust

signs of corrosion on rear springs

Fail 27 Oct 2008 97,847 miles

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

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

knocking from exhaust

signs of corrosion on rear springs

Pass 13 Nov 2007 90,142 miles

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

exhaust rattle

Fail 12 Nov 2007 90,141 miles

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

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

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

exhaust rattle

Pass 14 Nov 2006 82,295 miles

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

n/s/outer sill corroded but not strudtral at time of test

Fail 14 Nov 2006 82,293 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

n/s outer sill corroded but not structral at time of test

Pass 7 Nov 2005 72,056 miles

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

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

rear brake pads low

surface corrosion on brake pipes

Fail 7 Nov 2005 72,056 miles

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

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

rear brake pads low

surface corrosion on brake pipes

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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R303 LHP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55%.

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 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 R303 LHP, 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 R303 LHP?

You can check the full history of R303 LHP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R303 LHP registered?

R303 LHP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 25 November 1997.

Is R303 LHP safe to buy?

The MOT history for R303 LHP shows 20 tests with a 55% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R303 LHP 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 R303 LHP. 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.