2002 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · E5 CBC

The 2002 Mazda MX-5 remains roadworthy as of its most recent MOT on 17 September 2025 at 90,727 miles, yet the maintenance trend is best described as stable with a notable underlying corrosion concern. The 2025 pass was clean of major structural failure but carried four minor advisories: an inoperative nearside rear registration plate lamp, a corroded offside rear brake pipe, a minor front exhaust leak, and a smooth brake pedal. These are not critical failures, but the corrosion of a brake pipe and the minor exhaust leak point to age-related deterioration that a diligent owner should have addressed promptly. The vehicle passed, but the pattern suggests cosmetic and minor mechanical items are being noted rather than proactively resolved. The mileage profile is unusually low for a 24-year-old vehicle. Between the August 2022 test at 81,572 miles and the September 2024 test at 86,208 miles, the car covered just 4,636 miles in over two years, averaging under 2,000 miles annually in that window. The jump from 86,208 miles in September 2024 to 90,727 miles by September 2025 represents 4,519 miles in twelve months, a modest but consistent increase. The overall annualised average of roughly 3,780 miles is well below the UK typical of 8,000 to 12,000 miles per year. Low mileage can preserve mechanical components, but extended periods of inactivity accelerate rubber perishing, brake seeping, and localised corrosion, which is precisely what the record reveals. The most significant finding in this history is the corrosion pattern. In the August 2022 failure at 81,552 miles, the tester identified significant structural corrosion on the nearside and offside rear inner body structure and the offside rear outer sill, with the underside heavily undersealed. Underseal can trap moisture against bare metal, masking active corrosion rather than preventing it. The vehicle passed a retest on 25 August 2022, implying repairs were carried out, but the recurrence of a corroded brake pipe in 2025 suggests ongoing exposure to the same damp, corrosive environment beneath that underseal. A prospective buyer should have the underside inspected on a lift, paying particular attention to the rear inner sills, subframe mounting points, and brake pipe runs. Surface corrosion on a 2002 MX-5 is common, but the 2022 failure wording, citing significantly reduced rigidity, is a serious structural concern that demands verification of repair quality. Beyond structure, the front exhaust minor leak flagged in 2025 warrants attention. On a car of this age, exhaust corrosion at flex joints or manifold flanges is typical and not inherently dangerous, but it can worsen rapidly and affect emissions compliance at the next test. The smooth brake pedal advisory is more unusual and may indicate a worn pedal pivot bush or a master cylinder issue that has since been corrected, though a test drive should confirm consistent pedal feel. Tyres, suspension bushes, and coolant hoses should all be inspected given the car's age and intermittent use pattern. The MX-5 is mechanically straightforward and generally robust, but this record tells a story of a car that has spent periods sitting still, with corrosion managed reactively rather than prevented.