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R377 VBU

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Jul 2027
Tests15 (9 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

134,105 mi
Last recorded134,105 miles
Recorded on13 Jul 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR377 VBU
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

9 pass 6 fail
Pass 13 Jul 2026 134,105 miles
Fail 9 Jul 2026 134,105 miles

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Jul 2025 133,546 miles
Fail 30 Jun 2025 133,544 miles

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

Front Registration plate missing (0.1 (a))

Headlamp levelling device cannot be operated from the driver's seat (4.1.5 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Nearside rear inner of sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Fail 23 Dec 2024 133,521 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Fail 11 Dec 2024 133,425 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp reflector seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

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

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Oct 2012 119,576 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2011 94,756 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2010 92,537 miles
Pass 1 Oct 2009 92,087 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2008 91,649 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2007 90,923 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2007 90,923 miles

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

Pass 16 Aug 2006 90,559 miles
Fail 14 Aug 2006 90,559 miles

Nearside Parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.D.3a)

Offside Parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.D.3a)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Washer T-Piece under bonnet leaking

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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R377 VBU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 R377 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 R377 VBU?

You can check the full history of R377 VBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R377 VBU registered?

R377 VBU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 13 August 1997.

Is R377 VBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R377 VBU shows 15 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R377 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 R377 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.