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R353 CEU

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Nov 2026
Tests17 (14 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate82.4%

Mileage

136,063 mi
Last recorded136,063 miles
Recorded on29 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR353 CEU
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
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

14 pass 3 fail
Pass 29 Oct 2025 136,063 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Obligatory mirror slightly damaged glass missing (3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 6 Nov 2024 121,049 miles
Pass 16 Oct 2023 118,386 miles

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

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

general corrosion under body

nearside front wing corroded

repair work covered in under seal

Fail 4 Oct 2023 118,375 miles

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

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

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

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

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

general corrosion under body

nearside front wing corroded

Pass 4 Jun 2016 118,371 miles
Fail 1 Jun 2016 118,371 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Pass 27 Sep 2014 118,365 miles

Nearside Rear 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)

Pass 1 Oct 2013 117,713 miles

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

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 22 Aug 2012 114,285 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 30 Aug 2011 109,568 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2010 103,981 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2009 96,498 miles
Fail 10 Sep 2009 96,498 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 15 Aug 2008 86,580 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2007 75,120 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2006 65,491 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2005 52,315 miles

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

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

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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R353 CEU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.4%.

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 R353 CEU, 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 R353 CEU?

You can check the full history of R353 CEU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R353 CEU registered?

R353 CEU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R353 CEU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R353 CEU shows 17 tests with a 82.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R353 CEU 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 R353 CEU. 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.