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S48 LJB

1998 Mazda MX-5

Blue Petrol 1840cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Oct 2026
Tests15 (10 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

192,566 mi
Last recorded192,566 miles
Recorded on17 Oct 2025
Typical for 1998 Mazda MX-586,993 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationS48 LJB
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1998
ColourBlue
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

10 pass 5 fail
Pass 17 Oct 2025 192,566 miles
Pass 12 Nov 2014 191,670 miles

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

general underbody corrosion

Fail 12 Nov 2014 191,670 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

general underbody corrosion

Pass 3 May 2013 175,890 miles

general body corrosion

Pass 8 May 2012 161,062 miles

both front wiperblades poor

general underbody corrosion

Fail 26 Apr 2012 161,006 miles

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

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

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

Pass 16 Apr 2011 151,728 miles

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

both rear discs slighty worn

offside front chassis rail / inner flitch slighty corroded requires attention soon

Pass 4 May 2010 143,169 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Fail 29 Apr 2010 143,151 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 21 Nov 2008 121,913 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

slight corrosion to offside front inner wheel arch

Fail 21 Nov 2008 121,913 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Pass 22 Nov 2007 114,498 miles

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Pass 15 Nov 2006 105,470 miles

slight corrosion too nearside rear outer sill

slight corrosion too rear brake pipes

Pass 24 Nov 2005 91,668 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2005 91,668 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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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S48 LJB is a 1998 Mazda MX-5 in Blue with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

Across all 1998 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.9% with a typical mileage of 86,993 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 S48 LJB, 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 28 years old, this Mazda MX-5 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of S48 LJB?

You can check the full history of S48 LJB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S48 LJB registered?

S48 LJB is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is S48 LJB safe to buy?

The MOT history for S48 LJB shows 15 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S48 LJB 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 S48 LJB. 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.