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R454 VBU

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Nov 2022
Tests21 (12 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

120,784 mi
Last recorded120,784 miles
Recorded on13 Nov 2021
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

RegistrationR454 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

12 pass 9 fail
Pass 13 Nov 2021 120,784 miles

corrosion on brake disc s

oil leak on engine

Fail 13 Nov 2021 120,784 miles

Nearside Steering locking device missing track rod end split pin missing (2.1.3 (d))

Offside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Offside Steering locking device missing track rod end split pin (2.1.3 (d))

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

corrosion on brake disc s

oil leak on engine

Pass 7 Sep 2019 119,875 miles

Nearside Front brake binding

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

Fail 7 Sep 2019 119,875 miles

Nearside Front brake binding

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 13 Apr 2018 118,248 miles

Nearside Front binding only just met requirements

Nearside Front headlamp mounting brackets loose but alignment ok

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front headlamp bracket loose but alignment ok

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

Fail 3 Apr 2018 118,219 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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

Pass 7 Mar 2017 111,673 miles
Fail 3 Mar 2017 111,648 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded Sill, yellow chalk. (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded Sill, Yellow chalk. (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings chassis, yellow chalk. (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

Pass 14 Aug 2013 110,836 miles
Fail 10 Aug 2013 110,829 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision worn smooth (3.3.A.1b)

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

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

Pass 15 Aug 2012 105,312 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

o/s wiper blade split / brake antislip rubber wearing on corner / o/s rear outer sill starting to corrode

Fail 11 Aug 2012 105,304 miles

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

o/s wiper blade split / brake antislip rubber wearing on corner / o/s rear outer sill starting to corrode

Pass 17 Aug 2011 100,822 miles
Fail 16 Aug 2011 100,821 miles

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

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

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

Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Pass 10 Aug 2010 97,395 miles

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

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

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

Fail 7 Aug 2010 97,388 miles

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

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

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

Pass 8 Aug 2009 90,203 miles
Fail 16 Aug 2008 82,369 miles

Offside Inner Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 16 Aug 2008 82,369 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2007 69,874 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2006 60,974 miles

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

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

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

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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R454 VBU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

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 R454 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 R454 VBU?

You can check the full history of R454 VBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R454 VBU registered?

R454 VBU is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 29 August 1997.

Is R454 VBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R454 VBU shows 21 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R454 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 R454 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.