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R527 XAR

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Jun 2027
Tests18 (13 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate72.2%

Mileage

111,077 mi
Last recorded111,077 miles
Recorded on24 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR527 XAR
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

13 pass 5 fail
Pass 24 Jun 2026 111,077 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2025 109,091 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2024 107,452 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2023 105,110 miles

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

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

Pass 22 Jun 2022 101,057 miles

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced chassi (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 3 Apr 2021 96,125 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2021 96,122 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 30 Nov 2015 91,976 miles

Front coil spring corroded n/s and o/s (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 25 Nov 2015 91,974 miles

Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

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

Front coil spring corroded n/s and o/s (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 26 Nov 2014 85,887 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 30 Oct 2014 85,887 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel bead rim badly distorted (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 25 Oct 2013 77,041 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Drive shaft uj which forms part of the suspension has slight play in a universal joint (2.4.G.4b)

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

Pass 25 Oct 2013 77,041 miles

Offside Rear Drive shaft uj which forms part of the suspension has slight play in a universal joint (2.4.G.4b)

Pass 2 Nov 2012 69,799 miles

emission limits just reached

nearside rear roadwheel slightly distorted

Pass 9 Aug 2011 65,012 miles

nearside front electric headlamp adjuster does not work

radiator corroded and starting to break up

Fail 9 Aug 2011 65,012 miles

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

nearside front electric headlamp adjuster does not work

radiator corroded and starting to break up

Pass 11 Aug 2010 62,900 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2006 59,387 miles

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

nearside & offside outer sills getting corroded

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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R527 XAR is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.2%.

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 R527 XAR, 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 R527 XAR?

You can check the full history of R527 XAR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R527 XAR registered?

R527 XAR is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 19 November 1997.

Is R527 XAR safe to buy?

The MOT history for R527 XAR shows 18 tests with a 72.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R527 XAR 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 R527 XAR. 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.