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R542 VDA

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 May 2027
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

91,020 mi
Last recorded91,020 miles
Recorded on8 May 2026
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR542 VDA
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,839cc

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

19 pass 9 fail
Pass 8 May 2026 91,020 miles
Pass 9 Apr 2025 90,877 miles
Pass 1 May 2024 90,766 miles
Pass 14 Apr 2023 90,714 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2022 90,572 miles
Fail 23 Nov 2021 90,523 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

Nearside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 10 Nov 2021 90,522 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Nearside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced dip beam (4.1.4 (a))

Nearside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced main beam (4.1.4 (a))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

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

Nearside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 14 Oct 2020 90,304 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2019 90,172 miles

underside corrosion

Fail 30 Oct 2019 90,159 miles

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

underside corrosion

Pass 8 Aug 2018 89,591 miles
Pass 24 May 2017 88,861 miles
Pass 11 May 2016 88,289 miles
Pass 27 Apr 2015 87,450 miles

Evidence of exhaust rubbing n/s/r half shaft

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear silencer missing 1 hanging bracket

Strengthening bar across rear axle loose

Fail 20 Apr 2015 87,450 miles

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

Exhaust engine idle speed too high (7.3.D.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Evidence of exhaust rubbing n/s/r half shaft

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear silencer missing 1 hanging bracket

Strengthening bar across rear axle loose

Pass 10 Apr 2014 86,560 miles
Fail 7 Apr 2014 86,539 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)

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

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

Pass 8 Apr 2013 84,866 miles
Fail 5 Apr 2013 84,866 miles

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

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

Pass 2 Apr 2012 82,825 miles

All four shock absorbers dust boots are ripped/torn.

Fail 29 Mar 2012 82,805 miles

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

All four shock absorbers dust boots are ripped/torn.

Pass 25 Mar 2011 79,590 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2011 79,589 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2010 77,401 miles
Fail 19 Mar 2010 77,401 miles

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

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

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

engine missfire

fan belt slipping

Pass 19 Dec 2007 76,045 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2006 73,250 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2005 69,132 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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R542 VDA is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

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 R542 VDA, 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 R542 VDA?

You can check the full history of R542 VDA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R542 VDA registered?

R542 VDA is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 22 August 1997.

Is R542 VDA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R542 VDA shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R542 VDA 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 R542 VDA. 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.