CarVerify

Free Car Check

R501 AKR

1997 Mazda Bongo

White Diesel 2490cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires29 Jul 2026
Tests28 (16 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

246,607 mi
Last recorded246,607 miles
Recorded on16 Jul 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda Bongo131,832 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR501 AKR
MakeMazda
ModelBongo
Year1997
ColourWhite
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

16 pass 12 fail
Fail 16 Jul 2026 246,607 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area fractured significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 30 Jul 2025 242,984 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2024 242,492 miles

Emissions unable to be completed vehicle overheating before test could be carried out (8.2.2.2 (e))

Fluid leak harmful to the environment or a risk to other road users coolant pipes on inner sill badly corroded and leaking anti freeze (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced crossmember (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill and inner rear wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Steering system excessively rough column uj siezed. dangerous. (2.1.1 (a))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded to the extent that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected wishbone mounting (5.3.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Vehicle structure inadequately repaired such that it is likely to adversely affect braking or steering (6.1.1 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

Pass 9 Aug 2022 236,247 miles
Fail 3 Aug 2022 236,243 miles

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength cross member (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Pass 23 Jul 2021 228,006 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2020 224,134 miles

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 24 Jul 2020 224,130 miles

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired chassis - behind wheel (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal various repairs (5.3.6 (a) (i))

corrosion to all 4 coil springs

Fail 8 Jul 2020 224,129 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis - behind wheel (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis - above back box (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis - behind wheel (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength 1/4 section / chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

All 4 Coil Springs corroded

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Also Under inflated (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 31 May 2019 219,863 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (h) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (h) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

offside rear tyre is worn on the edges

Fail 30 May 2019 219,863 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (h) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (h) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

offside rear tyre is worn on the edges

Pass 15 Jun 2018 205,552 miles

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

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

all welding repairs are covered in underseal

nearside outer sill is corroded but not within any prescribed area

Fail 5 Jun 2018 205,534 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired cross member (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt buckle not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength bottom of wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired cross member (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened sill/lower wheel arch (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (h) (i))

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

nearside outer sill is corroded but not within any prescribed area

Pass 14 Jun 2017 190,707 miles

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

all welding repairs have been under sealed obscuring the inspection

both front to rear brake pipes are greased obscuring the inspection

front cross member is covered in underseal

Fail 8 Jun 2017 190,704 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded outer sill (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded rear mounting (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner/outer sill (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

both front to rear brake pipes are greased obscuring the inspection

front cross member is covered in underseal

nearside front inner sill is corroded but not within any prescribed area

Pass 27 May 2016 178,656 miles

Offside oil leak

offside front tyre wearing on inner and outer edges

unable to see various areas of underside of vehicle due to heavy underseal

Pass 10 Jun 2015 164,636 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

rear tyres worn low

rear wheel archs corroded

Fail 10 Jun 2015 164,630 miles

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

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

offside front brake binding slightly

rear tyres worn low

rear wheel archs corroded

Pass 15 May 2014 152,897 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 15 May 2014 152,897 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 6 Jun 2013 141,254 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2013 141,254 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Pass 11 Jun 2012 127,733 miles

Nearside Front Lower 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 Lower 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)

slight binding n/s/f brake

Pass 10 Jun 2011 114,504 miles

front brake discs corroded on inside edges

Pass 2 Sep 2010 109,787 miles
Pass 3 Sep 2009 105,349 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2009 105,333 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Pass 2 Sep 2008 101,157 miles

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R501 AKR is a 1997 Mazda Bongo in White with a 2,490cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 R501 AKR, 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 R501 AKR?

You can check the full history of R501 AKR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R501 AKR registered?

R501 AKR is a 1997 Mazda Bongo, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R501 AKR safe to buy?

The MOT history for R501 AKR shows 28 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 R501 AKR 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 R501 AKR. 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.