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R391 XFL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Purple Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Jul 2027
Tests24 (16 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

141,366 mi
Last recorded141,366 miles
Recorded on24 Jul 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR391 XFL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourPurple
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

16 pass 8 fail
Pass 24 Jul 2026 141,366 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 9 Feb 2024 140,621 miles

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

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

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

Pass 10 Feb 2023 137,782 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Pass 21 Nov 2021 136,893 miles

All tyres worn on inner edges

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre

Offside Front Suspension bellows damaged but not to excess evidence of contact with other suspension components (5.3.5 (b) (i))

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

Rear Suspension bellows damaged but not to excess both have evidence of contact with other suspension components (5.3.5 (b) (i))

Fail 21 Oct 2021 136,892 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp both are affected by hazards / indicators (4.2.3 (c))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

All tyres worn on inner edges

Both hand brake efforts quite low, nearside worse

Both rear foot brake efforts very low

Locking split pin missing from nearside front upper ball joint

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre

Offside Front Suspension bellows damaged but not to excess evidence of contact with road wheel (5.3.5 (b) (i))

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

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

Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively both (1.2.1 (e))

Rear Suspension bellows damaged but not to excess both have evidence of contact with other suspension components (5.3.5 (b) (i))

Pass 19 Oct 2020 129,688 miles

Both rear footbrake performances low

Handbrake performance low

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Side repeater insecure (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Offside Side repeater insecure (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Fail 16 Oct 2020 129,685 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded rear side to side brake pipe (1.1.11 (c))

Emissions not tested due to misfire and exhaust blows (8.2.1.2 (d))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases several blows (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low very low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too low off the scale (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

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

Road wheel fixings not compatible contact chamfer of nut hardly touching chamfer in wheel (5.2.2 (d))

Both rear footbrake performances low

Handbrake performance low

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Side repeater insecure (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Offside Side repeater insecure (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Tyre obviously under inflated all four (5.2.3 (l))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all four (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 7 Mar 2017 119,870 miles

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

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

Fail 23 Feb 2017 119,870 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm locating pin locking device missing (2.4.G.3b)

Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded outtter sill (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm locating pin locking device missing (2.4.G.3b)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded outter sill (2.4.A.3)

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

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

Pass 25 Feb 2016 113,388 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Outer Body has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

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

fuel lines corroded

Fail 20 Feb 2016 113,378 miles

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

Front Headlamp aim too low both (1.8)

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Outer Body has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

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

fuel lines corroded

Pass 17 Feb 2015 108,752 miles

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area repaired, but not inappropriately (2.4.A.3)

Fail 17 Feb 2015 108,752 miles

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area repaired, but not inappropriately (2.4.A.3)

Pass 21 Feb 2014 102,966 miles

Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area repaired, but not inappropriately (2.4.A.3)

Fail 23 Sep 2013 101,091 miles

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Rear fog lamp insecure (1.3.2a)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

nearside parking brake effort slightly low

Pass 20 Feb 2013 97,379 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 16 Sep 2011 93,973 miles

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Fail 16 Sep 2011 93,971 miles

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Pass 8 Jul 2010 91,332 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

Pass 17 Jul 2009 88,328 miles
Fail 17 Jul 2009 88,328 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 1 Jul 2008 83,229 miles

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

Pass 29 Jun 2007 77,644 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2006 73,129 miles

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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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R391 XFL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Purple with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 R391 XFL, 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 R391 XFL?

You can check the full history of R391 XFL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R391 XFL registered?

R391 XFL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R391 XFL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R391 XFL shows 24 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R391 XFL 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 R391 XFL. 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.