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R53 KLJ

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Sep 2026
Tests30 (16 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate53.3%

Mileage

115,729 mi
Last recorded115,729 miles
Recorded on29 Aug 2025
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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR53 KLJ
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

16 pass 14 fail
Pass 29 Aug 2025 115,729 miles

General underbody corrosion

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Tyre on 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 27 Aug 2025 115,696 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Leaking from backbox (6.1.2 (a))

General underbody corrosion

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Tyre on 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 6 Sep 2024 109,669 miles

All brake discs slightly rusted

General underbody corrosion

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 6 Sep 2024 109,669 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

All brake discs slightly rusted

General underbody corrosion

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Sep 2019 109,190 miles

rust hole nsf inner sill

rust hole nsr inner wheel arch

rust hole osf inner sill

Pass 4 Sep 2018 108,913 miles

corrosion nsf chassis

corrosion os and nsf floor

corrosion osr inner wheel arch

Fail 4 Sep 2018 108,913 miles

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

corrosion nsf chassis

corrosion os and nsf floor

corrosion osr inner wheel arch

Pass 11 Sep 2017 103,917 miles

All suspension components badly corroded.

Nearside front brake binding.

Rust in nearside front chassis leg , have this sorted soon.

Service brake performance only just passed, have this sorted.

Fail 31 Aug 2017 103,860 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

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

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

All suspension components badly corroded.

Nearside front brake binding.

Rust in nearside front chassis leg , have this sorted soon.

Service brake performance only just passed, have this sorted.

Fail 28 Apr 2017 103,844 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

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

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

All suspension components very corroded.

Nearside front brake binding.

Pass 3 May 2016 100,171 miles

Nearside Front Brake binding

Offside Front Brake binding

Pass 22 Apr 2015 97,312 miles

Nearside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Wipers smeary.

Pass 16 Apr 2014 96,100 miles

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

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

Fail 11 Apr 2014 95,087 miles

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

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

Parking 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)

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

Pass 26 Apr 2013 92,130 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2013 92,124 miles

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

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

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

Pass 10 Mar 2012 90,210 miles

underside of vehicle corroded

Fail 7 Mar 2012 90,200 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Nearside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

front and rear discs in poor condition

poor weld repair to n/s outter sill

underside of vehicle corroded

Pass 7 Oct 2010 89,768 miles

suspension front and rear rusty

Fail 1 Oct 2010 89,768 miles

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

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

Rear Exhaust has a part missing (7.1.1a)

suspension front and rear rusty

Pass 27 Aug 2009 89,204 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2009 89,204 miles

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

Pass 19 Aug 2008 87,946 miles
Fail 7 Aug 2008 87,915 miles

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

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

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

Pass 6 Sep 2007 86,681 miles
Fail 6 Sep 2007 86,681 miles

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

Pass 1 Sep 2006 84,653 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2006 84,653 miles

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

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

Pass 23 Aug 2005 81,637 miles
Fail 22 Aug 2005 81,636 miles

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

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

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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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.

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R53 KLJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.3%.

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 R53 KLJ, 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 R53 KLJ?

You can check the full history of R53 KLJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R53 KLJ registered?

R53 KLJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 19 September 1997.

Is R53 KLJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R53 KLJ shows 30 tests with a 53.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R53 KLJ 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 R53 KLJ. 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.