CarVerify

Free Car Check

R863 FFS

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Feb 2027
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

77,469 mi
Last recorded77,469 miles
Recorded on3 Feb 2026
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

RegistrationR863 FFS
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

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 3 Feb 2026 77,469 miles

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

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

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

heavily undersealed

Pass 12 Oct 2023 76,829 miles
Pass 16 Aug 2022 69,622 miles
Pass 13 Nov 2020 55,182 miles

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

Nearside Front Position lamp incorrect colour green (4.2.3 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Position lamp incorrect colour green (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 31 Jul 2020 55,173 miles

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength jacking point corroded and holed (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side both rear inop zero readings (1.4.1 (a))

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

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

Nearside Front Position lamp incorrect colour green (4.2.3 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Position lamp incorrect colour green (4.2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Feb 2019 42,431 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material advise front to rear brake pipe (1.1.11 (c))

advise under body corrosion

Fail 18 Oct 2018 40,947 miles

Nearside Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting corroded front and rear of cill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting cill corroded front and rear (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system front to rear brake pipe (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 10 Oct 2017 40,514 miles

front to rear brake pipes slightly corroded

Pass 20 Oct 2016 39,809 miles
Pass 14 Oct 2015 39,170 miles

both outer sills at rear outer skins corroded

corrosion on underside of vehicle front and rear

excessive rust on all suspension parts front and rear

Pass 14 Oct 2014 38,703 miles

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid close to minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

both outer rear sills corroded and weak

Fail 13 Oct 2014 38,703 miles

Brake pedal creeps down while the pedal is held under pressure (3.3.B.1a)

Nearside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid close to minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

both outer rear sills corroded and weak

Pass 16 Oct 2013 38,143 miles

both rear sills rusty at rear

various suspension components rusty

Pass 5 Oct 2012 37,356 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2011 36,574 miles
Pass 4 Oct 2010 35,416 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2010 35,416 miles

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 7 Oct 2009 35,044 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

all suspension components corroded

Pass 18 Sep 2008 33,755 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2007 32,332 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2006 30,894 miles

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

both front rear tyres cracking on sidewalls and at tread

both rear tyres wearing on inner edge and cracking at tread

Pass 6 Oct 2005 29,196 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

R863 FFS is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc 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 R863 FFS, 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 R863 FFS?

You can check the full history of R863 FFS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R863 FFS registered?

R863 FFS is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 12 August 1997.

Is R863 FFS safe to buy?

The MOT history for R863 FFS 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 R863 FFS 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 R863 FFS. 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.