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R81 KLJ

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Apr 2027
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

146,194 mi
Last recorded146,194 miles
Recorded on29 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR81 KLJ
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 29 Apr 2026 146,194 miles

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

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

hand brake travel high

Fail 29 Apr 2026 146,193 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

hand brake travel high

Pass 25 Apr 2025 144,160 miles

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Apr 2025 144,159 miles

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 30 Apr 2024 142,070 miles

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 18 Apr 2024 142,070 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Nov 2022 140,673 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

rear exhaust fitment poor

rear exhaust hangers in poor condition

Pass 11 Nov 2021 137,103 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Oct 2020 134,159 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 23 Oct 2020 134,159 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 24 Apr 2019 129,205 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2019 129,205 miles

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

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced inner wheel arch corroded (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Mar 2018 126,880 miles
Fail 19 Mar 2018 126,880 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded inner sill (5.2.6)

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

Pass 22 Mar 2017 124,860 miles

underseal applied to the underside obscuring some componants

Pass 4 Apr 2016 121,090 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 24 Mar 2016 121,088 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 23 Nov 2015 121,084 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords bald inner edge (4.1.D.1a)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

brakes not tested

Pass 27 Nov 2014 117,852 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

o/s/f brake binding slightly

rear sub frame rusty

Fail 27 Nov 2014 117,852 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

o/s/f brake binding slightly

rear sub frame rusty

Pass 28 Oct 2013 114,256 miles
Fail 28 Oct 2013 114,256 miles

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

Nearside Front position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Pass 6 Nov 2012 11,992 miles
Pass 21 Oct 2011 105,935 miles

Slight engine oil leak! n/s/r + o/s/r outer sill going soft!

Pass 8 Nov 2010 96,109 miles

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

corossion in nearside & offside body sills within 30cm of seat belt mounting prescribed areas

heavy corrosion in front & rear suspension sub frame & suspension components

nearside outer disc pad very worn

windscreen damage zone B

Fail 6 Nov 2010 96,109 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Inner Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

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

corossion in nearside & offside body sills within 30cm of seat belt mounting prescribed areas

heavy corrosion in front & rear suspension sub frame & suspension components

nearside outer disc pad very worn

windscreen damage zone B

Pass 25 Nov 2009 92,308 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

corrosion forming in os rear outer sill panel

corrosion on various suspension components,and front and rear subframes

oil and water levels topped up,tyre pressures corrected

Pass 21 Nov 2008 87,879 miles

corrosion forming on os outer sill

Pass 23 Nov 2007 84,006 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 25 Oct 2006 77,659 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2005 73,096 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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R81 KLJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

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 R81 KLJ, 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 R81 KLJ?

You can check the full history of R81 KLJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R81 KLJ registered?

R81 KLJ is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 29 November 1997.

Is R81 KLJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R81 KLJ shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R81 KLJ 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 R81 KLJ. 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.