CarVerify

Free Car Check

R43 DHO

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Oct 2026
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

31,746 mi
Last recorded31,746 miles
Recorded on16 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR43 DHO
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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 16 Oct 2025 31,746 miles

Nearside Front Service brake grabbing slightly (1.2.1 (c))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive *From dipstick tube* (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 16 Oct 2025 31,742 miles

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

Nearside Front Service brake grabbing slightly (1.2.1 (c))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive *From dipstick tube* (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Oct 2024 31,674 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 19 Oct 2023 31,523 miles

All suspension components covered in underseal

Nearside Front Outer Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Offside Front Outer Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 13 Oct 2022 31,515 miles

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 13 Oct 2022 31,515 miles

Central Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 4 Oct 2021 31,501 miles

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 20 Oct 2020 31,496 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 16 Oct 2020 31,496 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 23 Sep 2020 31,481 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

rust around vehicle

Pass 30 Sep 2019 31,469 miles

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened ALL SUSPENSION ARMS (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 27 Sep 2018 31,431 miles

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened all suspension arms corroded (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 25 Sep 2017 31,416 miles
Fail 25 Sep 2017 31,416 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Pass 28 Sep 2016 31,401 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front tyre cracking

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front tyre cracking

Pass 30 Sep 2015 31,315 miles

Front tyres perished

Fail 30 Sep 2015 31,315 miles

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

Front tyres perished

Pass 23 Sep 2014 31,159 miles
Fail 23 Sep 2014 31,159 miles

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

Pass 27 Sep 2013 31,003 miles
Fail 26 Sep 2013 31,003 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Nearside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Fail 26 Sep 2012 30,636 miles

All tyres perishing

Battery insecure

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 26 Sep 2012 30,636 miles

All tyres perishing

Battery insecure

Pass 29 Sep 2011 30,317 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2010 29,934 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2009 27,447 miles
Fail 29 Sep 2009 29,447 miles

Brake pedal pad not secure to the pedal (3.3.A.1c)

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

Pass 1 Oct 2008 28,858 miles
Pass 1 Oct 2007 28,476 miles
Fail 1 Oct 2007 28,476 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)

Pass 6 Oct 2005 25,659 miles

Brake pedal very close to accelerator pedal due to after market pedal covers fitted. † †No anti slip device(rubber) on clutch pedal.

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R43 DHO is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

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 R43 DHO, 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 R43 DHO?

You can check the full history of R43 DHO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R43 DHO registered?

R43 DHO is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 27 September 1997.

Is R43 DHO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R43 DHO shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R43 DHO 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 R43 DHO. 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.