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R778 MGH

1997 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Sep 2026
Tests23 (15 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate65.2%

Mileage

104,757 mi
Last recorded104,757 miles
Recorded on21 Aug 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR778 MGH
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourSilver
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

15 pass 8 fail
Pass 21 Aug 2025 104,757 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2025 104,753 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 4 Sep 2024 103,012 miles
Fail 28 Aug 2024 103,012 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength shock absorber mounting on wishbone (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Shock absorbers likely to become detached loose (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 18 Aug 2023 102,229 miles
Fail 10 Aug 2023 102,176 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 22 Aug 2022 100,865 miles
Pass 16 Aug 2021 99,567 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2021 99,567 miles

Offside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced rear inner wheel arch (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Aug 2020 97,437 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2019 93,913 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2019 93,899 miles

Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 18 Apr 2018 92,267 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Oil leak ()

Parking brake efficiency minimum requirements only just met. Adjustment or repair may be required.

Pass 18 May 2013 90,811 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 26 Apr 2012 89,070 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 26 Apr 2012 89,070 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 23 May 2011 87,290 miles
Fail 23 May 2011 87,290 miles

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

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

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

Pass 17 Aug 2009 84,727 miles

Nearside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Offside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

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

Pass 24 Jun 2008 80,110 miles
Fail 23 Jun 2008 80,110 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Jun 2007 73,607 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2006 66,068 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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R778 MGH is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.2%.

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 R778 MGH, 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 R778 MGH?

You can check the full history of R778 MGH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R778 MGH registered?

R778 MGH is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 15 August 1997.

Is R778 MGH safe to buy?

The MOT history for R778 MGH shows 23 tests with a 65.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R778 MGH 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 R778 MGH. 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.