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R388 VWL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 May 2027
Tests18 (14 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

116,942 mi
Last recorded116,942 miles
Recorded on21 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR388 VWL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,840cc

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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 4 fail
Pass 21 May 2026 116,942 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2025 115,921 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2024 115,054 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2023 113,767 miles

Nearside Passenger seat(s) missing at time of test

Pass 22 Feb 2022 112,718 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 5 May 2015 111,279 miles

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

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

Pass 6 May 2014 109,575 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2012 106,868 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear registration plate faded but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 17 Sep 2012 106,854 miles

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

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

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear registration plate faded but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 26 Jul 2011 103,231 miles
Fail 13 Jul 2010 99,103 miles

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 13 Jul 2010 99,103 miles

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

Pass 14 Jul 2009 93,658 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

o/s and n/s rear outer sills beginning to corrode.

Fail 18 Jul 2008 87,860 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 18 Jul 2008 87,860 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2007 80,779 miles
Fail 19 Jul 2007 80,649 miles

Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

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

hand brake travel

Pass 14 Jul 2006 73,442 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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R388 VWL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 R388 VWL, 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 R388 VWL?

You can check the full history of R388 VWL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R388 VWL registered?

R388 VWL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 29 November 1997.

Is R388 VWL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R388 VWL shows 18 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R388 VWL 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 R388 VWL. 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.