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R496 GRL

1997 Mazda Bongo

Red Diesel 2490cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Mar 2027
Tests29 (21 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate72.4%

Mileage

225,459 mi
Last recorded225,459 miles
Recorded on9 Mar 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda Bongo131,832 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR496 GRL
MakeMazda
ModelBongo
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,490cc

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

21 pass 8 fail
Pass 9 Mar 2026 225,459 miles

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

Pass 14 Mar 2025 220,192 miles

BOTH FRONT TOP MOUNT BUSHES SPLITING

Coil spring corroded BOTH REAR (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing BOTH NFRONT (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 13 Mar 2025 220,192 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn LOWER BUSH (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Battery insecure and likely to cause a short circuit (4.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working BULB IN WRONG (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

BOTH FRONT TOP MOUNT BUSHES SPLITING

Coil spring corroded BOTH REAR (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing BOTH NFRONT (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 21 Mar 2024 211,788 miles

Coil spring corroded all four (5.3.1 (b) (i))

exhaust centre in poor condition

Fail 6 Mar 2024 211,713 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Coil spring corroded all four (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

exhaust system in poor condition

Pass 2 Mar 2023 201,411 miles

Coil spring corroded BOTH FRONT (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing BOTH REAR (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 24 Feb 2023 201,240 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Coil spring corroded BOTH FRONT (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing BOTH REAR (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 28 Feb 2022 190,480 miles

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

Pass 26 Feb 2021 179,201 miles
Fail 26 Feb 2021 179,201 miles

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

Pass 5 Mar 2020 75,808 miles

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 4 Mar 2019 167,206 miles
Pass 5 Mar 2018 161,138 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2017 158,998 miles

Front brake pads low

Headlamp lens in poor condition

Nearside rear hub back plate damp

Oil leak

Under tray fitted

Under vehicle rusty

Fail 9 Mar 2017 158,998 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

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

Nearside rear hub back plate damp

Coolant level low

Front brake pads low

Headlamp lens in poor condition

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

Oil leak

Under tray fitted

Under vehicle rusty

Pass 4 Feb 2016 158,422 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

headlamps misted

underside off vehicle rusty

Fail 4 Feb 2016 158,422 miles

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

headlamps misted

underside off vehicle rusty

Pass 24 Mar 2015 157,912 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Oil leak

both inner and outer sills slightly corroded

exhaust corroded

front and rear suspension components slightly corroded

Pass 18 Mar 2014 154,999 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Oil leak

Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

both inner sills corroded

both outer sills corroded

general corrosion to all front and rear suspension components

offside front brake disc corroded

Pass 11 Mar 2013 152,839 miles

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

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

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

Oil leak

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

offside rear tyre worn to 3mm - legal limit 1.6mm

Pass 15 Mar 2012 151,528 miles

Oil leak

Fail 15 Mar 2012 151,528 miles

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

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 23 Feb 2011 148,790 miles

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Pass 10 Jun 2010 141,711 miles

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

Pass 16 Jun 2009 119,987 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 16 Jun 2008 100,275 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2007 79,404 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2006 58,939 miles
Fail 21 Jun 2006 58,472 miles

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

How Reliable is the Mazda Bongo?

Based on 251,584 MOT tests across 14,362 vehicles.

67.3%
Pass Rate
5,064
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
14,362
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

fog lamp not working 6,854
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 6,786
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 6,443
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5,607
Registration plate lamp not working 3,890
Full Mazda Bongo reliability report

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Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

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R496 GRL is a 1997 Mazda Bongo in Red with a 2,490cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.4%.

Across all 1997 Mazda Bongo models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.3% with a typical mileage of 131,832 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mazda Bongo fails its MOT is fog lamp not working, accounting for 6,854 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R496 GRL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda Bongo typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 29 years old, this Mazda Bongo is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R496 GRL?

You can check the full history of R496 GRL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R496 GRL registered?

R496 GRL is a 1997 Mazda Bongo, first registered on 1 January 1997.

Is R496 GRL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R496 GRL shows 29 tests with a 72.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R496 GRL 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 R496 GRL. 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.