CarVerify

Free Car Check

R501 USP

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1840cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 May 2026
Tests12 (8 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

54,934 mi
Last recorded54,934 miles
Recorded on28 May 2025
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
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

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 USP
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,840cc

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 28 May 2025 54,934 miles
Fail 28 May 2025 54,934 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

Pass 13 Jul 2017 53,133 miles

nearside floor to sill corroded

offside floor to sill corroded

Pass 23 Jun 2016 51,528 miles

ALL FRONT SUSPENSION BUSHES SHOWING CRACKS

ALL FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS SHOWING CORROSION

ALL REAR SUSPENSION BUSHES SHOWING CRACKS

BOTH REAR TYRE SIDE WALLS CRACKED

FRONT AND REAR CHASSIS SHOWING CORROSION

POWERSTEERING PIPES SHOWING CORROSION

Fail 7 Jun 2016 51,528 miles

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

ALL FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS SHOWING CORROSION

BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION ARM BUSHES CRACKED

BOTH REAR SUSPENSION ARM BUSHES CRACKED

BOTH REAR TYRE SIDE WALL SLIGHTLY CRACKED

FRONT AND REAR CHASSIS SHOWING CORROSION

FRONT AND REAR NUMBER PLATES FADED SLIGHTLY

POWERSTEERING PIPES CORRODED

Pass 13 May 2014 49,627 miles

all 4 brake hose ferrules showing corrosion

all front suspension components corroded/bushes cracked

all rear suspension components corroded/bushes cracked

exhaust system weak/corroded

front brake pads worn

nearside front tyre wall cracked

powersteering pipes showing corrosion

slight exhaust leak at rear section

vehicle chassis showing corrosion

Fail 5 May 2014 49,627 miles

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

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

all 4 brake hose ferrules showing corrosion

all front suspension components corroded/bushes cracked

all rear suspension components corroded/bushes cracked

exhaust system weak/corroded

front brake pads worn

nearside front tyre wall cracked

powersteering pipes showing corrosion

slight exhaust leak at rear section

vehicle chassis showing corrosion

Pass 14 Sep 2009 45,022 miles

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

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

Pass 25 Jul 2008 38,383 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2007 34,286 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2006 28,930 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2006 28,930 miles

Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

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

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

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 USP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,840cc 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 R501 USP, 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 USP?

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

What year was R501 USP registered?

R501 USP is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R501 USP safe to buy?

The MOT history for R501 USP 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 R501 USP 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 USP. 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.