2002 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · AO52 AVJ

The most recent MOT test on 17 November 2021 at 81,520 miles returned a failure with no defects recorded, leaving the vehicle's current roadworthiness unverified and the maintenance trend ambiguous. Prior to that, the car passed cleanly on 3 November 2020 at 80,530 miles after a failure four days earlier at 80,528 miles, also with no defects logged. The pattern of pass-fail-pass cycles in 2019 and 2020, followed by an unresolved failure in 2021, suggests administrative or presentation issues at the testing station rather than a clear mechanical decline, but the lack of recorded advisories means hidden wear cannot be ruled out. At roughly 24 years old, this 2002 Mazda MX-5 shows 81,520 miles on the clock, an average of about 3,397 miles per year. The odometer moved only 990 miles between the April 2019 failure at 79,422 miles and the November 2021 failure at 81,520 miles. Such low annual use over a long period implies the roadster spent extended spells stationary, a condition that accelerates rubber perishing, brake seizing, and structural corrosion even when mileage stays low. The record contains no gaps longer than eighteen months, yet the absence of any noted defects across five tests is atypical for a car of this age and warrants suspicion of incomplete reporting. A buyer should commission a physical inspection of the MX-5's suspension bushes, coil springs, and subframe for rust, as the DVSA data offers no reassurance on structural integrity. Standing time raises the risk of binding calipers and flat-spotted tyres, so the brake discs and tyre sidewalls need close examination. The unexplained 2021 failure means the car may not hold a valid test certificate today; confirm the current status before any purchase.