My 2003 MX5 Nevada with 22,000 on the clock, two owners, has just failed MOT at Mazda Tunbridge Wells. Told that seat belt anchorage points were corroded and they do not repair.
What options do I have? Car is beautiful and always garaged. Mazda service receptionist who phoned me to tell me this and ask whether I want to keep the car or scrap it!!!
Surely there must be options to repair??
Get it back quickly and get a second opinion.
Agree - get it back QUICKLY and get it to an independent MX5 specialist who can repair it for you ! I can’t seriously believe they have asked if you want it scrapped!!!
Yes, it can be repaired. Mine failed its MOT back in 2010 for the very same reason and I got the sills repaired (and wheel arches because they were rusty too) at great expense. Don’t scrap!!
I suspect that the actual seat belt anchorage points are ok and it’s just that they are within a certain distance of a corroded part - probably the rear of the sills and a bit of the adjacent floor. Same can happen for suspension that is quite safe, but just technically a failure. Not a major problem, but it will cost a few £00s to put right.
I too have an '03 Nevada that I picked up cheaply due to needing some welding repairs and it’s quite surprising just how crumbly it is in places underneath, including the power steering pipes. I haven’t dared yet look at the front chassis rails, but if I were you I’d have them checked out properly when you have the sills looked at by whomever.
However if there is real rust affecting the seat belt mounts then you probably do have a seriously rusty car and might be best moving it on.
I have a 2003 Nevada 1.8, and it needed the same fixing last month. It will be two small patches of rust underneath between the sill and floor. The seat belt anchorage points should be fine and easy to check yourself. So it is just rust within Xcm distance of them. At a guess £30 to £40 each side, just a bit of welding and slap a load of under seal over it.
Nothing to worry about and quite normal.