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R501 TLW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Jan 2016
Tests15 (9 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

141,684 mi
Last recorded141,684 miles
Recorded on12 Jan 2015
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

RegistrationR501 TLW
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

9 pass 6 fail
Pass 12 Jan 2015 141,684 miles

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

off side rear tyre inner edge worn

Fail 7 Jan 2015 141,683 miles

Nearside Inner Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Outer Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is severely distorted (5.2.6)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

off side rear tyre inner edge worn

Pass 5 Dec 2013 133,941 miles
Fail 4 Dec 2013 133,940 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Nov 2012 126,775 miles

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

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Fail 20 Nov 2012 126,774 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 2 Jun 2011 118,667 miles

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Fail 31 May 2011 118,663 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision worn smooth (3.3.A.1b)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 1 Jun 2010 112,411 miles

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

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

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

Pass 18 Mar 2009 104,775 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2009 104,773 miles

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

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

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

Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Pass 11 Feb 2008 97,048 miles

Oil leak

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 30 Jan 2008 96,832 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

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

Oil leak

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 11 Jan 2007 89,241 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2006 82,880 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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R501 TLW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 R501 TLW, 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 R501 TLW?

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

What year was R501 TLW registered?

R501 TLW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 3 December 1997.

Is R501 TLW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R501 TLW shows 15 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R501 TLW 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 TLW. 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.