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R4 ECB

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Apr 2027
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

81,492 mi
Last recorded81,492 miles
Recorded on7 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

RegistrationR4 ECB
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 7 Apr 2026 81,492 miles

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

General of underbody corroded

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 9 Apr 2025 74,800 miles

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

Front Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened and lower (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Mar 2024 68,839 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 26 Mar 2024 68,835 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 3 Apr 2023 64,997 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2022 61,601 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 22 Jan 2022 61,532 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 22 Jan 2021 58,207 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 21 Dec 2020 58,057 miles

Brake fluid contaminated (1.8 (a))

Offside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 20 Jul 2019 55,677 miles

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

Offside Rear Outer Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill corroding (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 25 Jul 2018 53,687 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2017 51,713 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2016 49,619 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2015 49,226 miles
Fail 22 Jul 2015 49,185 miles

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

Pass 18 Jul 2014 48,401 miles

General suspension corrosion.

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Pass 23 Jul 2013 47,378 miles

general suspension corrosion

slight corrosion to n/ outer sill

Fail 18 Jul 2013 47,340 miles

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

general suspension corrosion

slight corrosion to n/ outer sill

Pass 26 Jul 2012 45,717 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2011 41,130 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2010 38,176 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2009 36,082 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2008 32,705 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2007 30,433 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2006 28,077 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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R4 ECB is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 R4 ECB, 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 R4 ECB?

You can check the full history of R4 ECB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R4 ECB registered?

R4 ECB is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R4 ECB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R4 ECB shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R4 ECB 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 R4 ECB. 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.