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S701 REC

1998 Mazda MX-5

Silver Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Aug 2026
Tests27 (17 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate63%

Mileage

89,499 mi
Last recorded89,499 miles
Recorded on20 Aug 2025
Typical for 1998 Mazda MX-586,993 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationS701 REC
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

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

17 pass 10 fail
Pass 20 Aug 2025 89,499 miles
Fail 12 Aug 2025 89,499 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 10 Feb 2025 89,498 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced inner sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis leg (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced inner sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 15 Feb 2024 81,459 miles

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both sides (5.3.3 (b) (i))

bottom of front chassis legs corroding

front chassis leg underseal peeling revealing corrosion to upper areas

knock heard during brake testing - recommend investigation

Pass 1 Feb 2023 79,729 miles

suspect quality of repairs carried out to - dront chassis legs ( rubberized sealer ) and inner arch lower seal areas

Fail 30 Jan 2023 79,729 miles

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

suspect quality of repairs carried out to - dront chassis legs ( rubberized sealer ) and inner arch lower seal areas

Pass 24 Jan 2022 77,316 miles

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Fail 22 Jan 2022 77,309 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 1 Feb 2021 74,893 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 31 Oct 2019 73,701 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened all (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 19 Oct 2018 69,900 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened all front and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 13 Sep 2017 65,846 miles
Fail 13 Sep 2017 65,846 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 2 Aug 2016 62,135 miles
Pass 6 Feb 2014 61,357 miles

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

Fail 14 Jan 2014 60,706 miles

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 5 Jan 2013 46,666 miles
Fail 5 Jan 2013 46,666 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 18 Jan 2012 43,212 miles
Fail 17 Jan 2012 43,212 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 23 Aug 2010 33,729 miles

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

Fail 23 Aug 2010 33,729 miles

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

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

Pass 17 Aug 2009 31,902 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2008 29,804 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2007 28,309 miles
Fail 2 Jul 2007 28,309 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

Pass 12 Jul 2006 26,262 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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S701 REC is a 1998 Mazda MX-5 in Silver with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63%.

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 S701 REC, 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 S701 REC?

You can check the full history of S701 REC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S701 REC registered?

S701 REC is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 August 1998.

Is S701 REC safe to buy?

The MOT history for S701 REC shows 27 tests with a 63% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S701 REC 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 S701 REC. 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.