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R397 SBA

1997 Toyota Carina

Blue Petrol 1762cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Oct 2026
Tests30 (21 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

142,444 mi
Last recorded142,444 miles
Recorded on25 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Toyota Carina101,856 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR397 SBA
MakeToyota
ModelCarina
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,762cc

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

21 pass 9 fail
Pass 25 Oct 2025 142,444 miles

Front Coil spring corroded n/s/f and o/s/f (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security inner sills (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security outter sills (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security inner sills (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security outter sills (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material n/s/r and o/s/r (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Coil spring corroded n/s/ r and o/s/r (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

did not lcok on rear both hand brake and service brake

under floor hevay surface rust throout compounts

Pass 27 Nov 2024 140,048 miles

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material n/s/r and o/s/r suspect under tank (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security n/s/r and o/s/r inner sills (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 25 Nov 2023 137,026 miles

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material n/s/r and o/s/r (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 30 Nov 2022 133,249 miles

Front Coil spring corroded N/S & O/S (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Front & Rear (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal N/S & O/S (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Nov 2021 130,488 miles

Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced N/S & O/S (Sill) (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 27 Nov 2020 127,368 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sil (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sil (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 27 Nov 2020 127,368 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sil (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sil (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 30 Nov 2019 123,581 miles

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material N/S & O/S (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced N/S & O/S (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 30 Nov 2019 123,581 miles

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material N/S & O/S (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced N/S & O/S (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 2 Oct 2018 122,040 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2017 121,989 miles

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

Fail 18 Oct 2017 121,989 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (4.1.D.1e)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 25 Oct 2016 121,484 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

offside front tyre cracking inner edge

offside rear tyre cracking inner edge

Fail 25 Oct 2016 121,484 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

offside front tyre cracking inner edge

offside rear tyre cracking inner edge

Pass 1 Oct 2015 120,591 miles

rear coil springs corroded

rear number plate starting to fade

rear subframe corroded

rusty and corroded around front subframe and chassis

rusty and corroded around rear under body sills and inner wheel arches

Fail 1 Oct 2015 120,591 miles

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

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

rear coil springs corroded

rear number plate starting to fade

rear subframe corroded

rusty and corroded around front subframe and chassis

rusty and corroded around rear under body sills and inner wheel arches

Pass 23 Oct 2014 118,733 miles

vehicle very rusty and corroded in mnay places on underside

Fail 16 Oct 2014 118,685 miles

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

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

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

front brake discs corroded and pads getting low

offside front brake pipe to flex hose slightly corroded and ferrule corroded

vehicle very rusty and corroded in mnay places on underside

Fail 15 Oct 2013 116,210 miles

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

rear brake pipes corroding

Pass 15 Oct 2013 116,210 miles

rear brake pipes corroding

Pass 24 Oct 2012 113,586 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Fail 23 Oct 2012 113,586 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Pass 24 Oct 2011 110,983 miles

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Pass 19 Oct 2010 108,843 miles

corrosion starting around o/s/f subframe mount

front brake pads getting low

front to rear and n/s/r /o/s/r steel brake pipes starting to corrode

slight blow from front exhaust pipe

Fail 19 Oct 2010 108,843 miles

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

corrosion starting around o/s/f subframe mount

front brake pads getting low

front to rear and n/s/r /o/s/r steel brake pipes starting to corrode

slight blow from front exhaust pipe

Pass 20 Oct 2009 106,350 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

rear offside light cluster broken

slight damage to nearside outer cill

Pass 21 Oct 2008 103,545 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2007 100,610 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2006 96,318 miles

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

Pass 29 Sep 2005 90,555 miles

How Reliable is the Toyota Carina?

Based on 357,148 MOT tests across 60,472 vehicles.

67.9%
Pass Rate
4,852
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
60,472
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 30,262
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 25,858
position lamp(s) not working 14,340
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 12,242
Stop lamp not working 11,154
Full Toyota Carina reliability report

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R397 SBA is a 1997 Toyota Carina in Blue with a 1,762cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

Across all 1997 Toyota Carina models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.2% with a typical mileage of 101,856 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 Toyota Carina fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 30,262 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R397 SBA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Toyota Carina typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 29 years old, this Toyota Carina is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R397 SBA?

You can check the full history of R397 SBA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R397 SBA registered?

R397 SBA is a 1997 Toyota Carina, first registered on 22 August 1997.

Is R397 SBA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R397 SBA shows 30 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R397 SBA 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 R397 SBA. 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.