CarVerify

Free Car Check

R950 WBW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1840cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Oct 2026
Tests18 (15 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

133,936 mi
Last recorded133,936 miles
Recorded on3 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR950 WBW
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

15 pass 3 fail
Pass 3 Oct 2025 133,936 miles

Nearside parking brake effort slightly low.

Pass 25 Jul 2024 133,246 miles

Coolant leak ()

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

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Jul 2023 132,755 miles

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

Pass 12 Feb 2020 132,253 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2018 131,407 miles

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

Pass 17 Aug 2016 130,343 miles
Fail 23 Jul 2016 130,312 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front Power steering component(s) leaking from a failed seal (2.3.3b)

Nearside Front Front suspension has a suspension lower ball joint securing nut not locked (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' (8.3.1b)

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

Pass 20 Jul 2015 125,960 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 7 Jul 2015 125,957 miles

Emissions not tested (7.3.A.1)

Coolant leak

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 18 Jul 2014 125,853 miles

oil leak

Pass 19 Jul 2013 124,718 miles

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

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

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Offside rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

Pass 11 Jul 2012 124,203 miles
Fail 6 Jul 2012 124,203 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

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

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 1 Apr 2010 121,571 miles
Pass 16 May 2009 120,445 miles

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

Pass 24 Jun 2008 118,710 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2007 110,993 miles

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

n/s/r tyre tread on wear indicaters

Pass 14 Mar 2006 105,967 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

R950 WBW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

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 R950 WBW, 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 R950 WBW?

You can check the full history of R950 WBW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R950 WBW registered?

R950 WBW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 8 October 1997.

Is R950 WBW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R950 WBW shows 18 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R950 WBW 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 R950 WBW. 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.