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R358 VBU

1997 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Sep 2017
Tests17 (11 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate64.7%

Mileage

126,433 mi
Last recorded126,433 miles
Recorded on1 Sep 2016
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR358 VBU
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourSilver
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 6 fail
Pass 1 Sep 2016 126,433 miles

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

Fail 31 Aug 2016 126,428 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded across sub frame (3.6.B.2c)

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

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded floor/inner sill (5.2.6)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded floor/inner sill (5.2.6)

Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

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

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

Oil leak ()

Pass 2 Sep 2015 123,064 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2014 121,566 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2013 121,146 miles

brake pipes greased

fuel pipes greased

Fail 22 Aug 2013 121,142 miles

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

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

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Rear registration plate background overprinted or shadowed with text (6.3.1e)

brake pipes greased

fuel pipes greased

Pass 23 Aug 2012 119,270 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2012 119,266 miles

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (7.1.4)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 12 Aug 2011 116,652 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 5 Aug 2011 116,652 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Offside Rear brake caliper securing device loose (3.5.1j)

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 19 Aug 2010 110,720 miles

Nearside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

slight corrosion to offside rear brake pipe

some corrosion to rear outer sills

Fail 19 Aug 2010 110,720 miles

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

slight corrosion to offside rear brake pipe

some corrosion to rear outer sills

Pass 10 Aug 2009 100,968 miles

slight corrosion offside rear brake pipe

slight pitting front and rear brake discs

some corrosion to rear of outer sills

Fail 29 Jul 2009 100,953 miles

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

slight corrosion offside rear brake pipe

slight pitting front and rear brake discs

some corrosion to rear of outer sills

Pass 23 Jul 2008 88,564 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2007 80,429 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2006 72,801 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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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R358 VBU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.7%.

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 R358 VBU, 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 R358 VBU?

You can check the full history of R358 VBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R358 VBU registered?

R358 VBU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R358 VBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R358 VBU shows 17 tests with a 64.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R358 VBU 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 R358 VBU. 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.