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R842 FVC

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Jul 2027
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

121,268 mi
Last recorded121,268 miles
Recorded on2 Jul 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR842 FVC
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,840cc
View full Mazda MX-5 reliability data Browse other 1997 Mazda MX-5 registrations

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

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 2 Jul 2026 121,268 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 9 Jul 2025 121,067 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 8 Jul 2024 120,940 miles

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

exhaust corroded

Pass 28 Jun 2023 120,462 miles

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

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 6 Jul 2022 119,542 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Front Coil spring corroded and rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both side (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both side floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

exhaust corroded

Pass 10 May 2021 117,946 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both side sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 22 May 2020 116,646 miles

Central Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both side (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both side (6.1.1 (c) (i))

exhaust corroded

Pass 21 Feb 2019 116,155 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Inner Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both side wheel arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both side sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 10 Apr 2018 115,979 miles

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (2.4.G.1)

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion both side sill (6.1.A.1)

Pass 17 Mar 2017 114,592 miles

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

Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement both side (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion both side sill (6.1.A.1)

exhaust corroded

Pass 11 Jan 2016 111,753 miles

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 30 Jun 2014 108,486 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)

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

Offside Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) slightly corroded (2.3.2)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 20 Jun 2013 107,064 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

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

Fail 20 Jun 2013 107,064 miles

Front Tyre(s) incorrect because tyres with different aspect ratios are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

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

Pass 3 Sep 2011 104,823 miles
Fail 27 Aug 2011 104,823 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Oil leak

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

front brake discs corroded inside edge

Pass 25 May 2010 99,455 miles
Fail 25 May 2010 99,454 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 22 Dec 2008 96,645 miles

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

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

Fail 22 Dec 2008 96,645 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

Pass 21 May 2007 91,851 miles

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

Pass 12 Dec 2005 83,702 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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R842 FVC is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

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 R842 FVC, 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 R842 FVC?

You can check the full history of R842 FVC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R842 FVC registered?

R842 FVC is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 12 December 1997.

Is R842 FVC safe to buy?

The MOT history for R842 FVC shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R842 FVC 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 R842 FVC. 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.