CarVerify

Free Car Check

R35 STP

1997 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1840cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Mar 2027
Tests24 (20 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

92,712 mi
Last recorded92,712 miles
Recorded on26 Feb 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR35 STP
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

20 pass 4 fail
Pass 26 Feb 2026 92,712 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2026 92,712 miles

Brake performance unable to be tested (1.2.1 (g))

Rear Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 10 Mar 2025 92,285 miles

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

Pass 13 Mar 2024 91,467 miles

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

Pass 13 Mar 2023 90,368 miles

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

Pass 9 Mar 2022 89,156 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2021 88,426 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2020 87,665 miles

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

Pass 20 Feb 2019 86,714 miles

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

Pass 13 Mar 2018 85,935 miles

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

Pass 30 Jul 2016 84,288 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2015 83,249 miles
Fail 15 Aug 2014 81,298 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

clutch slave cylinder leaking badly

surface rust on front and rear suspension parts

Pass 15 Aug 2014 81,298 miles

clutch slave cylinder leaking badly

surface rust on front and rear suspension parts

Pass 27 Jul 2013 79,045 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2012 77,495 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2011 75,382 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2010 73,563 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2009 71,862 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2008 69,991 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2007 67,013 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2006 63,982 miles
Fail 8 Aug 2006 63,982 miles

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

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Outer Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Outer Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Fail 31 Jul 2006 63,878 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R35 STP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

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 R35 STP, 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 R35 STP?

You can check the full history of R35 STP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R35 STP registered?

R35 STP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 22 August 1997.

Is R35 STP safe to buy?

The MOT history for R35 STP shows 24 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R35 STP 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 R35 STP. 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.