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R547 XAR

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Aug 2026
Tests22 (14 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

146,181 mi
Last recorded146,181 miles
Recorded on16 Aug 2025
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

RegistrationR547 XAR
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

14 pass 8 fail
Pass 16 Aug 2025 146,181 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

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

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

Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights ()

Pass 7 Aug 2020 145,903 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2017 146,483 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2016 143,204 miles
Pass 12 Nov 2014 139,252 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fail 12 Nov 2014 139,252 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 21 Nov 2013 132,474 miles

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

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

Pass 29 Oct 2012 125,708 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 29 Oct 2012 125,708 miles

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

Cuts in nearside rear tyre

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 26 Oct 2011 119,388 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

slight oil leak

Fail 26 Oct 2011 119,388 miles

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

slight oil leak

Pass 26 Oct 2010 112,644 miles

both sills corroded

Fail 26 Oct 2010 112,644 miles

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

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

both sills corroded

Pass 26 Oct 2009 105,910 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 26 Oct 2009 105,910 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Fail 24 Oct 2008 99,923 miles

Centre Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

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

Pass 24 Oct 2008 99,923 miles

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

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

Pass 29 Oct 2007 93,543 miles
Fail 29 Oct 2007 93,543 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 2 Oct 2006 85,411 miles

Rear window cracked and split

Pass 7 Oct 2005 75,169 miles
Fail 7 Oct 2005 75,169 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

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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R547 XAR is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 R547 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 R547 XAR?

You can check the full history of R547 XAR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R547 XAR registered?

R547 XAR is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 October 1997.

Is R547 XAR safe to buy?

The MOT history for R547 XAR shows 22 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R547 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 R547 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.