CarVerify

Free Car Check

R960 AMB

1997 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1839cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Jul 2027
Tests16 (12 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

43,060 mi
Last recorded43,060 miles
Recorded on17 Jul 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

RegistrationR960 AMB
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourRed
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

12 pass 4 fail
Pass 17 Jul 2026 43,060 miles

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

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

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 9 Oct 2019 42,937 miles

Offside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Rear park brake performance low

Fail 5 Jul 2019 42,915 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Both rear outer sills slightly corroded

Vehicle underside has slight corrosion

Pass 10 Jul 2018 42,422 miles

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

Fail 10 Jul 2018 42,412 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Jun 2016 42,087 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

corrosion to both rear outer sills

nearside front brake binding

nearside rear tyre deteriorated

Fail 2 Jun 2016 42,079 miles

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

corrosion to both rear outer sills

nearside front brake binding

nearside rear tyre deteriorated

Pass 30 Aug 2012 41,942 miles

Nearside Inner Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Outer Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Inner Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Outer Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

nearside rear tyre valve deteriorated

Pass 1 Sep 2011 41,816 miles
Fail 1 Sep 2011 41,816 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 3 Sep 2010 41,623 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2009 40,927 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2008 40,239 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2007 39,152 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2006 37,147 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2005 35,140 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

R960 AMB is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 R960 AMB, 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 R960 AMB?

You can check the full history of R960 AMB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R960 AMB registered?

R960 AMB is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 20 August 1997.

Is R960 AMB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R960 AMB shows 16 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R960 AMB 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 R960 AMB. 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.