CarVerify

Free Car Check

S974 VNM

1998 Mazda MX-5

Blue Petrol 1840cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Jul 2026
Tests24 (18 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

80,835 mi
Last recorded80,835 miles
Recorded on28 Jul 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
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

RegistrationS974 VNM
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

18 pass 6 fail
Pass 28 Jul 2025 80,835 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 25 Jul 2024 79,350 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Apr 2023 79,041 miles
Fail 3 Apr 2023 79,041 miles

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

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

Pass 9 Jul 2021 78,637 miles
Fail 9 Jul 2021 78,637 miles

Front Registration plate missing (0.1 (a))

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 16 Jan 2020 77,805 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2018 74,499 miles
Fail 14 Dec 2018 74,499 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Pass 8 Feb 2018 73,479 miles

sun visor fitted but not seriously affecting view

Fail 29 Jan 2018 73,479 miles

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

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

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Offside Front Lower Front suspension locking device missing split pin missing (2.5.A.4)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded inner sill to outer sill joint (5.2.6)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin approx 2mm (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner to outer sill seam (5.2.6)

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

sun visor fitted but not seriously affecting view

Pass 3 Feb 2017 70,839 miles

unable to inspect n/s& o/s outter sills due to plastic oversill covers

Fail 3 Feb 2017 70,839 miles

Nearside Front Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (7.1.3)

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

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

Offside Front Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Front Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

unable to inspect n/s& o/s outter sills due to plastic oversill covers

Pass 7 Nov 2015 63,904 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2015 63,904 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 25 Oct 2014 55,240 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2013 47,770 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2012 42,313 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2011 39,280 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2010 36,681 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2009 34,794 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2008 33,210 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2007 30,520 miles
Pass 16 Oct 2006 27,513 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

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

S974 VNM is a 1998 Mazda MX-5 in Blue with a 1,840cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 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 S974 VNM, 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 S974 VNM?

You can check the full history of S974 VNM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S974 VNM registered?

S974 VNM is a 1998 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 30 October 1998.

Is S974 VNM safe to buy?

The MOT history for S974 VNM shows 24 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 S974 VNM 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 S974 VNM. 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.