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R98 FMA

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Oct 2026
Tests22 (21 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate95.5%

Mileage

66,904 mi
Last recorded66,904 miles
Recorded on12 Sep 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR98 FMA
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,840cc

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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 1 fail
Pass 12 Sep 2025 66,904 miles
Pass 27 Sep 2024 66,858 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2023 66,840 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2022 66,618 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2021 66,079 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 7 Oct 2020 65,875 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 21 Sep 2019 65,189 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2018 64,942 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2017 64,677 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2016 64,262 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2015 63,356 miles

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Pass 12 Sep 2014 60,661 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2013 58,233 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Sep 2012 55,374 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2011 53,325 miles

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Pass 15 Sep 2010 50,340 miles

Advise exhust back box corroded and leaking gases slightly.

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 17 Sep 2009 48,256 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2009 48,241 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 30 Aug 2008 47,348 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2007 46,029 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2006 44,009 miles

slight play in steering rack/ noisy

Pass 20 Sep 2005 39,301 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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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R98 FMA is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 95.5%.

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 R98 FMA, 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 R98 FMA?

You can check the full history of R98 FMA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R98 FMA registered?

R98 FMA is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 9 October 1997.

Is R98 FMA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R98 FMA shows 22 tests with a 95.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R98 FMA 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 R98 FMA. 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.