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R978 MBL

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Mar 2027
Tests23 (21 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate91.3%

Mileage

103,885 mi
Last recorded103,885 miles
Recorded on10 Mar 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR978 MBL
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,839cc

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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 2 fail
Pass 10 Mar 2026 103,885 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2025 103,307 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2024 99,021 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2023 96,873 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2023 96,872 miles

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

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

Pass 1 Jul 2022 92,813 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2021 92,548 miles
Fail 13 Jul 2021 92,548 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 21 Jul 2020 92,361 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective starting to split still clears the screen effectively (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Jun 2019 91,452 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2018 90,202 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2017 89,207 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2016 86,823 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2015 84,639 miles

Offside front anti roll bvar has reduced clearence from top suspension arm.

Offside front lower anti roll bar mounting has been modified.

Pass 10 Jul 2014 82,028 miles
Pass 9 Jul 2013 79,531 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2012 78,159 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 8 Jul 2011 76,309 miles
Pass 12 Jul 2010 73,740 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2009 71,070 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2008 68,640 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2007 66,695 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2006 64,402 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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R978 MBL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 91.3%.

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 R978 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 R978 MBL?

You can check the full history of R978 MBL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R978 MBL registered?

R978 MBL is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R978 MBL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R978 MBL shows 23 tests with a 91.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R978 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 R978 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.