CarVerify

Free Car Check

R57 SBD

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Apr 2027
Tests13 (9 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

111,645 mi
Last recorded111,645 miles
Recorded on16 Apr 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
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

RegistrationR57 SBD
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

9 pass 4 fail
Pass 16 Apr 2026 111,645 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Recommend early replacement (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Fail 15 Apr 2026 111,643 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Recommend early replacement (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Pass 2 Apr 2025 109,119 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

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

Pass 10 Apr 2024 105,562 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 12 Apr 2023 102,423 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

offside rear outer sill, and both rear inner wheel arches have light corrosion

Fail 12 Apr 2023 102,423 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

offside rear outer sill, and both rear inner wheel arches have light corrosion

Pass 11 Apr 2022 98,949 miles

Central Front Alternator Belt Worn

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

Central Front Oil leak, but not excessive Gearbox Seepage (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Central Front Undertray Fitted

Central Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 9 Apr 2021 96,500 miles

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Rocker Cover Seepage (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Apr 2020 91,111 miles

Nearside Outer corrosion to sill area

Offside Outer sill area corroded

Pass 15 Apr 2019 89,472 miles
Fail 11 Apr 2019 89,443 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 17 Apr 2018 88,365 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2018 88,365 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 has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

R57 SBD is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

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 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 R57 SBD, 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 R57 SBD?

You can check the full history of R57 SBD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R57 SBD registered?

R57 SBD is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 20 August 1997.

Is R57 SBD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R57 SBD shows 13 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R57 SBD 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 R57 SBD. 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.