1996 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · P711 BRD
1996 Mazda MX-5 (1.8L, petrol). First registered 25 Sept 1996. Recorded mileage 92,226 miles. MOT expired on 26 Nov 2024. Currently declared SORN.
- Make & Model
- MAZDA MX-5
- Year / Origin
- 1996 · Preston
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 26 Nov 2024
- Road Tax
- SORN
- Recorded Mileage
- 92,226 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 1.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
P711 BRD Key Findings
- 26 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 27/11/2023
- 92,226 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 11 historical MOT failures
- 5 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (26 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
P711 BRD MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
26 MOT tests are recorded for this 1996 Mazda Mx-5 (P711 BRD) between February 2006 and November 2023.
The record contains 15 passes and 11 failures.
The most recent test on 27 November 2023 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 11 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (26 issues), Tyres (16 issues), Suspension (12 issues), Bodywork (10 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (4 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 50 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural ”; “Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))”; “Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))”.
P711 BRD Mileage History
- 06/02/200659,134 mi
- 16/02/200659,252 mi+118 mi
- 04/12/200662,186 mi+2,934 mi
- 15/12/200662,188 mi+2 mi
- 29/04/200871,843 mi+9,655 mi
- 29/04/200871,843 mi
- 24/04/200972,796 mi+953 mi
- 27/04/200972,798 mi+2 mi
- 16/03/201175,809 mi+3,011 mi
- 17/03/201175,810 mi+1 mi
- 27/03/201278,817 mi+3,007 mi
- 27/03/201278,817 mi
- 23/04/201381,497 mi+2,680 mi
- 24/04/201381,504 mi+7 mi
- 30/04/201483,782 mi+2,278 mi
- 22/03/201685,592 mi+1,810 mi
- 22/03/201685,594 mi+2 mi
- 21/03/201785,605 mi+11 mi
- 17/04/201986,321 mi+716 mi
- 18/04/201986,321 mi
- 13/10/202090,440 mi+4,119 mi
- 23/09/202190,892 mi+452 mi
- 28/03/202290,894 mi+2 mi
- 24/03/202391,893 mi+999 mi
- 31/03/202391,901 mi+8 mi
- 27/11/202392,226 mi+325 mi
Average of roughly 1,859 miles per year across 26 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for Mazda Mazda MX-5 (NA, late UK cars)
Our database tracks 5 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Below Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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MAZDA MX-5 Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1996 model year cars.
- Rear Sill and Inner Arch RustSerious
Late NA shells commonly rot around the rear sill sections ahead of the back wheels, often from the inside out after years of damp and blocked drains.
- Hood Drain and Rain-Rail Water IngressModerate
Blocked drains or an ageing rain rail let water into the cabin and rear cavities, accelerating sill corrosion and leaving carpets damp.
- Clutch Slave Cylinder Hydraulic Fluid Leakage and Pedal FailureModerate
Late Mk1 MX-5 models frequently suffer clutch hydraulic failures due to internal seal degradation and cylinder bore corrosion in the clutch slave cylinder, which is mounted low on the side of the transmission bellhousing exposed to UK road splash. Leaking hydraulic fluid causes a spongy clutch pedal that progressively loses resistance, drops to the floor and fails to disengage the clutch, making 1st and reverse gears almost impossible to engage from a standstill. Because the clutch and brake systems share similar fluid maintenance regimes, dirty moisture-laden DOT 4 fluid accelerates the failure. Replacing the slave cylinder along with a braided flexi-hose and fresh fluid is a standard UK independent repair.
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