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R445 MGJ

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Nov 2026
Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

142,910 mi
Last recorded142,910 miles
Recorded on14 Nov 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR445 MGJ
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
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 10 fail
Pass 14 Nov 2025 142,910 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated upper and lower (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated upper and lower (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 14 Nov 2025 142,910 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated upper and lower (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated upper and lower (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 9 Aug 2024 142,326 miles

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

Pass 19 Aug 2023 141,747 miles

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

Pass 24 Aug 2022 140,639 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2021 136,726 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2020 135,078 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Nail in tyre ()

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 15 Aug 2019 132,171 miles

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

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

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Nail in tyre Tread low inner ()

Fail 15 Aug 2019 132,171 miles

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

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

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Rear Nail in tyre Tread low inner ()

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

Pass 11 Aug 2018 126,376 miles

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 11 Aug 2018 126,376 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Aug 2017 119,557 miles

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the light source but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Fail 9 Aug 2017 119,557 miles

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the light source but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 19 Aug 2016 114,054 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2015 109,473 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 19 Aug 2015 109,473 miles

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 5 Aug 2014 105,333 miles
Fail 5 Aug 2014 105,332 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 23 Aug 2013 101,816 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2013 101,814 miles

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

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

Pass 29 Aug 2012 96,363 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2012 96,363 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 12 Aug 2011 91,786 miles
Pass 10 Aug 2010 87,487 miles
Pass 25 Aug 2009 62,848 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2009 62,746 miles

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

Pass 10 Sep 2008 78,065 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2007 73,584 miles
Fail 17 Aug 2006 66,123 miles

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

Pass 17 Aug 2006 66,123 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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R445 MGJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 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 R445 MGJ, 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 R445 MGJ?

You can check the full history of R445 MGJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R445 MGJ registered?

R445 MGJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 15 September 1997.

Is R445 MGJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R445 MGJ shows 30 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 R445 MGJ 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 R445 MGJ. 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.