CarVerify

Free Car Check

R985 HDL

1997 Mazda Bongo

Grey Petrol 2500cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Sep 2026
Tests16 (12 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

154,194 mi
Last recorded154,194 miles
Recorded on17 Sep 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda Bongo131,832 mi

Above 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

RegistrationR985 HDL
MakeMazda
ModelBongo
Year1997
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,500cc

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 Sep 2025 154,194 miles
Fail 8 Sep 2025 153,877 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 3 Sep 2024 130,800 miles
Fail 2 Sep 2024 130,800 miles

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.2.1 (b))

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

Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect both (4.1.2 (c))

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

Pass 14 Sep 2023 117,892 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2022 106,698 miles
Fail 10 Oct 2022 106,698 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 14 Oct 2021 98,037 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2020 93,140 miles
Pass 16 Oct 2019 89,276 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2018 84,690 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2017 77,434 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2016 69,560 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2015 57,330 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2014 50,528 miles
Fail 14 Oct 2014 50,528 miles

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

How Reliable is the Mazda Bongo?

Based on 251,584 MOT tests across 14,362 vehicles.

67.3%
Pass Rate
5,064
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
14,362
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

fog lamp not working 6,854
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 6,786
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 6,443
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5,607
Registration plate lamp not working 3,890
Full Mazda Bongo 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

R985 HDL is a 1997 Mazda Bongo in Grey with a 2,500cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1997 Mazda Bongo models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.3% with a typical mileage of 131,832 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mazda Bongo fails its MOT is fog lamp not working, accounting for 6,854 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R985 HDL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda Bongo typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 29 years old, this Mazda Bongo is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R985 HDL?

You can check the full history of R985 HDL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R985 HDL registered?

R985 HDL is a 1997 Mazda Bongo, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R985 HDL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R985 HDL 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 R985 HDL 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 R985 HDL. 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.