CarVerify

Free Car Check

R976 MBL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1840cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Oct 2026
Tests26 (17 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate65.4%

Mileage

82,871 mi
Last recorded82,871 miles
Recorded on6 Oct 2025
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

RegistrationR976 MBL
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

17 pass 9 fail
Pass 6 Oct 2025 82,871 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Sep 2025 82,870 miles

Central Emissions unable to be completed exhaust has major leak (8.2.1.2 (d))

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Sep 2024 82,789 miles

Offside Inner Sill corroded

Offside Outer Sill corroded

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Swept area (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Sep 2023 82,000 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases At joint (6.1.2 (a))

Parking brake lever high

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Swept area (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 31 Aug 2023 81,977 miles

Horn not working Relay clicking but no sound (7.7 (a))

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases At joint (6.1.2 (a))

Parking brake lever high

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Swept area (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Sep 2022 81,600 miles

low efficency on n/s rear brake

o/s & n/s floor corroded

Pass 30 Sep 2021 80,406 miles
Fail 22 Sep 2021 80,397 miles

Emissions not tested due to exhaust leak (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Jun 2019 80,340 miles

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view small stone chip (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 14 Jun 2019 80,340 miles

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

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

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view small stone chip (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Jun 2018 79,581 miles

Front brakes dragging

Fail 26 May 2017 79,544 miles

Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings inner and outer sill (6.1.B.2)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 13 May 2016 79,387 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2016 79,381 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Front tyre cracking

Fail 21 May 2015 79,192 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

nearside front tyre outer sidewall cracking

suspension arms and subframes rusted

Pass 21 May 2015 79,192 miles

nearside front tyre outer sidewall cracking

suspension arms and subframes rusted

Pass 7 Apr 2014 78,679 miles

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

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

both front back plates rusty

both lower wish bones very rusty

nearside rearunder sill corroded but not within 30cm of components

under car very rusty

Pass 6 Aug 2012 78,305 miles

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

nearside rear under sill corroded but not within 30cm of components

Fail 6 Aug 2012 78,305 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

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

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

nearside rear under sill corroded but not within 30cm of components

Pass 26 Oct 2010 78,279 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 25 Sep 2009 78,049 miles
Fail 25 Sep 2009 78,049 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 26 Sep 2008 73,458 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Rear axle brake pipe corroded not to excess

Pass 28 Sep 2007 66,731 miles

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

Pass 29 Sep 2006 58,658 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2005 54,322 miles

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

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

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

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

front registration plate backing starting to peel

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

R976 MBL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.4%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 R976 MBL, 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 R976 MBL?

You can check the full history of R976 MBL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R976 MBL registered?

R976 MBL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 10 October 1997.

Is R976 MBL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R976 MBL shows 26 tests with a 65.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R976 MBL 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 R976 MBL. 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.