CarVerify

Free Car Check

R5 CAF

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires17 Mar 2026
Tests13 (11 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate84.6%

Mileage

120,088 mi
Last recorded120,088 miles
Recorded on18 Mar 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
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

RegistrationR5 CAF
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

11 pass 2 fail
Pass 18 Mar 2025 120,088 miles

Both outer Sills/rear arch Corroded

Fail 7 Aug 2024 120,042 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill holed and corroded (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced floor holed and corroded (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 12 Aug 2023 118,860 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear park brake low effort

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

corrosion apparent throughout vehicle

Pass 15 Aug 2022 117,606 miles

corrosion apparent under vehicle

Pass 27 May 2014 117,306 miles

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

brake pipes covered in grease

Pass 9 Apr 2013 115,556 miles

brake pipes heavily greased.

corrosion to front suspension area

front and rear pads and discs approacing limit of wear.

front anti roll bar link rod bushes starting to perish.

Pass 11 Apr 2012 108,458 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2011 99,317 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2011 99,314 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)

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

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

Pass 13 Apr 2010 93,135 miles

heavy corrosion to both rear outer sills

Pass 23 Apr 2009 92,523 miles

corrosion to both rear outer sills

Pass 28 Apr 2008 91,827 miles

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

Pass 7 Jul 2006 80,837 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

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

R5 CAF 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 84.6%.

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 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 R5 CAF, 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 R5 CAF?

You can check the full history of R5 CAF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R5 CAF registered?

R5 CAF is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 24 October 1997.

Is R5 CAF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R5 CAF shows 13 tests with a 84.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R5 CAF 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 R5 CAF. 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.