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R451 VBU

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Apr 2027
Tests20 (13 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate65%

Mileage

80,823 mi
Last recorded80,823 miles
Recorded on13 Apr 2026
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR451 VBU
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

13 pass 7 fail
Pass 13 Apr 2026 80,823 miles

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

Pass 9 Jul 2019 75,612 miles
Fail 3 Jul 2019 75,606 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill and inner wing (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill and inner wing (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 4 Jul 2018 75,038 miles

knocking noise from suspension

Fail 2 Jul 2018 75,038 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength innersill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Apr 2017 74,994 miles

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

rear axle footbrake effort only just passed test

Pass 8 Apr 2015 69,187 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2015

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

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

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

Pass 4 Apr 2014 61,802 miles
Fail 21 Mar 2014 61,465 miles

Centre Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

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

Pass 30 Mar 2013 54,232 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 23 May 2012 51,803 miles

rear discs corroded

Fail 16 May 2012 51,803 miles

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

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

Offside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

rear discs corroded

Pass 10 May 2011 47,568 miles
Fail 10 May 2011 47,568 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Pass 12 May 2010 43,029 miles

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

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

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

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 10 May 2010 43,019 miles

Nearside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

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

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

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 18 Aug 2008 40,558 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Pass 6 Aug 2007 38,667 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2006 37,137 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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R451 VBU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65%.

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 R451 VBU, 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 R451 VBU?

You can check the full history of R451 VBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R451 VBU registered?

R451 VBU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 29 August 1997.

Is R451 VBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R451 VBU shows 20 tests with a 65% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R451 VBU 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 R451 VBU. 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.