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R471 LJW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Beige Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires6 Aug 2022
Tests21 (14 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

120,628 mi
Last recorded120,628 miles
Recorded on5 Aug 2021
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

RegistrationR471 LJW
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBeige
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

14 pass 7 fail
Pass 5 Aug 2021 120,628 miles

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement all round (5.3.4 (a) (i))

corrosion underside vehicle - suspension components, subframes

Pass 7 Aug 2020 114,264 miles

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

Underside of vehicle heavily under sealed in places

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Underside of vehicle getting rusty in places (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 31 Jul 2020 144,199 miles

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

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill end (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Front Position lamp incorrect colour (4.2.3 (a) (i))

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Underside of vehicle getting rusty in places (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 5 Aug 2019 108,008 miles

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

Pass 3 Aug 2018 103,577 miles

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

Fail 3 Aug 2018 103,575 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 13 May 2017 99,268 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded from offside flexi to near side (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 16 Apr 2016 93,336 miles

Nearside Body has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

Pass 30 May 2015 87,748 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2014 85,563 miles
Fail 14 Nov 2012 85,534 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 14 Nov 2012 85,534 miles
Fail 26 Oct 2012 85,630 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 27 Apr 2011 85,379 miles

front rear number plates acceptable

wiper blades acceptable

Fail 27 Apr 2011 85,379 miles

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

front rear number plates acceptable

wiper blades acceptable

Pass 27 Nov 2008 83,862 miles
Fail 22 Nov 2008 83,843 miles

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

Pass 30 Jul 2007 78,535 miles
Fail 30 Jul 2007 78,533 miles

Exhaust tailpipe not capable of allowing the emission probe to be inserted (7.3.D.1)

Nearside Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Rear Exhaust has a part missing (7.1.1a)

Pass 28 Jul 2006 71,498 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2005 64,694 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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R471 LJW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Beige with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 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 R471 LJW, 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 R471 LJW?

You can check the full history of R471 LJW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R471 LJW registered?

R471 LJW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 22 August 1997.

Is R471 LJW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R471 LJW shows 21 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 R471 LJW 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 R471 LJW. 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.