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S53 VWJ

1999 Mazda Bongo

Black Petrol 2490cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Feb 2027
Tests20 (13 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate65%

Mileage

205,414 mi
Last recorded205,414 miles
Recorded on13 Feb 2026
Typical for 1999 Mazda Bongo125,870 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationS53 VWJ
MakeMazda
ModelBongo
Year1999
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,490cc

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

13 pass 7 fail
Pass 13 Feb 2026 205,414 miles

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both, D-Bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively Both (1.2.1 (e))

Fail 9 Feb 2026 205,412 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both, D-Bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively Both (1.2.1 (e))

Pass 6 Feb 2025 195,924 miles

Headlamp lens slightly defective both (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Oil leak, but not excessive DRIVE SHAFT OIL SEAL (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 6 Feb 2025 195,924 miles

Headlamp lens slightly defective both (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Oil leak, but not excessive DRIVE SHAFT OIL SEAL (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 14 Feb 2024 187,484 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2024 187,484 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 13 Feb 2023 179,207 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2023 179,207 miles

Offside Rear Inner Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 8 Feb 2022 168,933 miles
Pass 10 Feb 2021 159,275 miles

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

Headlamp lens slightly defective both (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Pass 12 Feb 2020 150,500 miles

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

Pass 5 Feb 2019 139,155 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2018 129,576 miles

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

Pass 9 Feb 2017 120,005 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2017 120,003 miles

Nearside Front Outer Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 8 Feb 2016 107,975 miles
Pass 6 Feb 2015 93,110 miles
Fail 5 Feb 2015 93,110 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 11 Feb 2014 80,823 miles
Fail 10 Feb 2014 80,823 miles

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

Nearside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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S53 VWJ is a 1999 Mazda Bongo in Black with a 2,490cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65%.

Across all 1999 Mazda Bongo models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.5% with a typical mileage of 125,870 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 Bongo fails its MOT is fog lamp not working, accounting for 6,854 recorded failures. If you're considering buying S53 VWJ, 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 27 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 S53 VWJ?

You can check the full history of S53 VWJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S53 VWJ registered?

S53 VWJ is a 1999 Mazda Bongo, first registered on 31 December 1999.

Is S53 VWJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for S53 VWJ shows 20 tests with a 65% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S53 VWJ 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 S53 VWJ. 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.