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R481 FFW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires3 Aug 2014
Tests12 (8 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

116,701 mi
Last recorded116,701 miles
Recorded on27 Jul 2013
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR481 FFW
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

8 pass 4 fail
Pass 27 Jul 2013 116,701 miles

All Suspension bushes perished

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Rear registration plate faded but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Fail 16 Jul 2013 116,673 miles

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

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

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

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

All Suspension bushes perished

Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Rear registration plate faded but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 3 Aug 2012 115,176 miles

sill corrosion / under body corrosion / brake pipe corrosion / slight bind n/s/f

Pass 29 Jul 2011 112,966 miles

both front tyres wearing on edges / brakepipe corrosion / sill corrosion / front n rear drop link bushes deterateing / slight bind on nsf brake / both rear tyres wearing on edges / osr tyre warn on inner edgeclose to legal limit

Pass 3 Aug 2010 108,531 miles
Fail 27 Jul 2010 108,387 miles

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

coil springs corroded / anti-roll b ar bushes heavily cracking / rear tyres deteriorating & in poor condition/ exhaust deteriorated & 1 rubber missing !! / under body corrosion

Pass 4 Aug 2009 102,553 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 30 Jun 2008 94,765 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2007 90,445 miles
Fail 24 Jul 2007 90,443 miles

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

Offside Front Brake hose twisted (3.6.B.4c)

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

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

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

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

Power steering component(s) leaking from a failed joint (2.3.3b)

Pass 22 Jul 2006 80,982 miles
Fail 15 Jul 2006 80,782 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to obstruct correct operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

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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R481 FFW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 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 R481 FFW, 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 R481 FFW?

You can check the full history of R481 FFW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R481 FFW registered?

R481 FFW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 8 October 1997.

Is R481 FFW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R481 FFW shows 12 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 R481 FFW 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 R481 FFW. 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.