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R816 XJW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Oct 2026
Tests23 (14 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate60.9%

Mileage

116,842 mi
Last recorded116,842 miles
Recorded on6 Oct 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR816 XJW
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
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 9 fail
Pass 6 Oct 2025 116,842 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 27 Sep 2023 114,470 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 22 Sep 2023 114,467 miles

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

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

Front Registration plate missing (0.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Inner Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Hole in sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Hole in sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 30 Jun 2022 107,575 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively Both. (1.2.1 (e))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively Both. (1.2.1 (e))

Fail 9 Jun 2022 107,037 miles

Brake fluid contaminated (1.8 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Obligatory mirror does not provide a view to the rear (3.3 (c))

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (3.3 (b) (ii))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked. (0.1 (b))

Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Pass 14 Jun 2021 97,443 miles

Exhaust mounting defective middle rubber (6.1.2 (a))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated both sides (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 7 Jun 2021 97,439 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting wheel arch holed (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Outer Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill holed (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp affects side and brake light (4.4.3 (b))

Offside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting wheel arch holed (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill holed (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust mounting defective middle rubber (6.1.2 (a))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated both sides (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 2 Jun 2020 95,304 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2017 93,771 miles

Oil leak ()

Fail 9 Jan 2017 93,703 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 hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Headlamp aim too high both (1.8)

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Front Nail in tyre ()

Pass 17 Dec 2015 90,179 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

oil leak

Fail 14 Dec 2015 90,174 miles

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (7.1.3)

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)

Front registration plate character(s) not correctly formed (6.3.4b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Rear registration plate character(s) not correctly formed (6.3.4b)

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

oil leak

Pass 14 Jan 2015 87,501 miles

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

show plates in boot

Fail 9 Jan 2015 87,501 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

show plates in boot

Fail 9 Apr 2014 86,546 miles

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

all brake pipes greased

Pass 9 Apr 2014 86,546 miles

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

all brake pipes greased

Pass 19 Apr 2013 84,763 miles

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

all brake pipes greased

Pass 21 Apr 2012 82,670 miles

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

rear discs slightly corroded

Pass 22 Apr 2011 80,698 miles

advise condition front wiper blades

advise condition front/rear suspension components/corroded-vehicle been standing

advise front/rear brake discs corroded

Pass 15 Oct 2007 78,609 miles

center exhaust corroded and pinholed and lambda high

front brake discs worn and corroded

front brake pads well worn

n/s/f shock absorber damp

Fail 11 Oct 2007 78,609 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel bead rim badly distorted (4.2.A.1a)

center exhaust corroded and pinholed and lambda high

front brake discs worn and corroded

front brake pads well worn

n/s/f shock absorber damp

n/s/f wheel inner rim badly dented

o/s/r wheel inner rim dented

Fail 21 Sep 2007 78,070 miles

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

Nearside Rear Road wheel bead rim badly distorted (4.2.A.1a)

rear brake discs worn and corroded

front brake pads and discs well worn

minor gas leak at center silencer and lambda high

n/s/f shock absorber damp

Pass 20 Sep 2006 68,116 miles

front brake pads well worn

n/s/r tyre worn unevenly on inside edge

rear brake pads very well worn

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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£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R816 XJW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.9%.

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 R816 XJW, 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 R816 XJW?

You can check the full history of R816 XJW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R816 XJW registered?

R816 XJW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 3 October 1997.

Is R816 XJW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R816 XJW shows 23 tests with a 60.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R816 XJW 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 R816 XJW. 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.