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R36 VPU

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Apr 2027
Tests23 (15 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate65.2%

Mileage

126,960 mi
Last recorded126,960 miles
Recorded on20 Mar 2026
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

RegistrationR36 VPU
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,839cc

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

15 pass 8 fail
Pass 20 Mar 2026 126,960 miles
Fail 7 Mar 2026 126,950 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Front Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Apr 2025 126,183 miles
Pass 11 May 2024 124,825 miles
Pass 20 May 2023 122,488 miles
Fail 1 Jul 2022 122,914 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Front Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch ()

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch ()

Pass 30 Jun 2021 112,663 miles
Fail 26 Jun 2021 112,636 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 9 Jul 2020 107,989 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2018 106,960 miles

light corrosion to all suspension components

Pass 24 Oct 2013 106,112 miles

Vehicle structure has slight damage (6.1.A.1)

general corrossion all round on subframes and components

o/s/f wiper deteriorated

Pass 1 Nov 2012 104,676 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

both front and rear subframes and components corroded

rear fog lamp loose

Fail 23 Oct 2012 104,623 miles

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

Nearside Front Upper Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

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

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

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

both front and rear subframes and components corroded

n/s/f wheel has restricted free movement

rear fog lamp loose

Pass 26 Oct 2011 103,600 miles

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

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Pass 23 Jun 2010 102,799 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2010 102,723 miles

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

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

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

Pass 28 Mar 2009 100,614 miles
Fail 16 Mar 2009 100,614 miles

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

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

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 14 Mar 2008 98,967 miles
Fail 12 Mar 2008 98,952 miles

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

Offside Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

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

Pass 17 Oct 2006 94,873 miles
Fail 16 Oct 2006 94,873 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Pass 2 Nov 2005 92,293 miles

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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R36 VPU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.2%.

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 R36 VPU, 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 R36 VPU?

You can check the full history of R36 VPU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R36 VPU registered?

R36 VPU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 19 August 1997.

Is R36 VPU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R36 VPU shows 23 tests with a 65.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R36 VPU 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 R36 VPU. 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.