CarVerify

Free Car Check

R616 RCH

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Aug 2026
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

47,188 mi
Last recorded47,188 miles
Recorded on20 Aug 2025
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
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

RegistrationR616 RCH
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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 20 Aug 2025 47,188 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2024 46,965 miles
Pass 21 Aug 2023 46,785 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2022 46,374 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2021 46,207 miles
Pass 13 Aug 2020 45,879 miles
Pass 8 Aug 2019 45,122 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2018 44,028 miles
Fail 19 Jun 2018 43,871 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced SILL (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced SILL (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Jun 2017 42,636 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2016 41,394 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2015 40,317 miles
Fail 22 Jul 2015 40,315 miles

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 15 Jul 2014 39,156 miles

all 4 tyres side walls perished & cut on edge of tread pattern

Pass 11 Jul 2013 37,976 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2012 36,847 miles
Pass 12 Jul 2011 35,737 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2010 34,386 miles
Fail 13 Jul 2010 34,386 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 8 Jul 2009 33,199 miles

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

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

Pass 11 Jul 2008 32,115 miles

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

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

Fail 11 Jul 2008 32,115 miles

Lower Steering column universal joint insecure (2.1.5)

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

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

Pass 16 Jul 2007 30,652 miles
Fail 16 Jul 2007 30,652 miles

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 17 Jul 2006 29,242 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

R616 RCH is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 R616 RCH, 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 R616 RCH?

You can check the full history of R616 RCH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R616 RCH registered?

R616 RCH is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R616 RCH safe to buy?

The MOT history for R616 RCH shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R616 RCH 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 R616 RCH. 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.