1998 Daihatsu Hijet — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Daihatsu Hijet passed 64.9% of its 590 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 9.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.2% of tests against 16.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 104 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 30.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 39.2% once past 90-120k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.2% | 131 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 99 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 93 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 63 |
| 5 | Suspension | 9.8% | 58 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.8% | 52 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 104 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 73 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 70 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 70 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 57 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 44 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.4% | 197 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.1% | 172 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 127 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 103 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.0% | 100 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.7% | 81 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 39 | 30.8% |
| 30-60k | 208 | 35.1% |
| 60-90k | 242 | 34.3% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 39.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 155 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 148 | 41.2% |
| 2023 | 122 | 36.9% |
| 2024 | 86 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 79 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Hijet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (22.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (15.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1998 Daihatsu Hijets pass their MOT?
64.9% of the 590 1998 Daihatsu Hijet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Daihatsu Hijet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.2% of tests, followed by brakes (16.8%).
Does the 1998 Hijet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.8% in the 0-30k band to 39.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 590 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.