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R898 LEL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Apr 2027
Tests18 (13 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate72.2%

Mileage

123,703 mi
Last recorded123,703 miles
Recorded on28 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

RegistrationR898 LEL
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

13 pass 5 fail
Pass 28 Apr 2026 123,703 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Fail 28 Apr 2026 123,703 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension locking device missing (5.3.6 (b))

Pass 26 Apr 2023 120,989 miles

Both front tyres close too legal limit

Pass 27 Sep 2016 114,120 miles

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

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

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

nail in nearside rear tye

oil leak from diff

Fail 27 Sep 2016 114,120 miles

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

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

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

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

nail in nearside rear tye

oil leak from diff

Pass 17 Sep 2015 107,792 miles

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

both o/s and n/s outter sills corroded

n/s/f tyre worn on outter edge

oil leak

oil round rear diff no leak detected

Fail 17 Sep 2015 107,792 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

both o/s and n/s outter sills corroded

n/s/f tyre worn on outter edge

oil leak

oil round rear diff no leak detected

Fail 18 Sep 2014 102,720 miles

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

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

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

both front and both rear shock absorber dust covers deteriorated

both nsf and both osf ball joint gaiters slightly deteriorated

corrosion to ns outer sill

front brake pads low

rear brake pads low

repair to os outer sill

slight corrosion to front suspension

slight corrosion to underbody and chassis

Pass 18 Sep 2014 102,720 miles

both front and both rear shock absorber dust covers deteriorated

both nsf and both osf ball joint gaiters slightly deteriorated

corrosion to ns outer sill

front brake pads low

rear brake pads low

repair to os outer sill

slight corrosion to front suspension

slight corrosion to underbody and chassis

Pass 24 Sep 2013 95,826 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2012 91,595 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 26 Aug 2011 86,950 miles
Pass 25 Aug 2010 83,663 miles
Pass 13 Aug 2009 80,067 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2008 76,232 miles
Fail 10 Sep 2007 70,827 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 10 Sep 2007 70,827 miles

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

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

Pass 7 Sep 2006 66,082 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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R898 LEL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.2%.

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 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 R898 LEL, 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 R898 LEL?

You can check the full history of R898 LEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R898 LEL registered?

R898 LEL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R898 LEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R898 LEL shows 18 tests with a 72.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R898 LEL 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 R898 LEL. 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.