CarVerify

Free Car Check

R955 FKN

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1839cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Feb 2027
Tests27 (21 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

138,473 mi
Last recorded138,473 miles
Recorded on21 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationR955 FKN
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,839cc

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

21 pass 6 fail
Pass 21 Jan 2026 138,473 miles
Fail 21 Jan 2026 138,466 miles

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Pass 21 Jan 2025 136,372 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 17 Jan 2025 136,355 miles

Offside Rear Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 25 Jan 2024 134,130 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2023 131,836 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2023 131,834 miles

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 24 Jan 2022 129,447 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 14 Jan 2021 126,749 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2020 124,644 miles
Fail 15 Jan 2020 124,644 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded offside to nearside (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 17 Jan 2019 120,515 miles
Fail 16 Jan 2019 120,515 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 17 Jan 2018 116,552 miles
Fail 15 Jan 2018 116,551 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded inner and outer sills corroded (5.2.6)

Pass 23 Jan 2017 112,435 miles
Pass 18 Jan 2016 109,222 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2015 105,963 miles
Pass 13 Jan 2014 102,768 miles

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

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

Pass 17 Jan 2013 99,770 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2012 96,960 miles
Pass 3 Feb 2011 89,575 miles
Pass 29 Jan 2010 81,475 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2009 72,706 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2008 64,998 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2007 56,571 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2006 50,234 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

R955 FKN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 R955 FKN, 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 R955 FKN?

You can check the full history of R955 FKN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R955 FKN registered?

R955 FKN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R955 FKN safe to buy?

The MOT history for R955 FKN shows 27 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R955 FKN 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 R955 FKN. 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.