1998 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
11,185 MOT tests on the 1998 Ford Fiesta are in this dataset, and 66.4% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 1998 Fiesta comes out 4.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.7%) and brakes (16.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,606 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 32.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.9% once past 90-120k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.7% | 2,093 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 1,819 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 1,507 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 1,284 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 759 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 566 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,606 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 964 |
| 3 | Joints | 871 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 753 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 753 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 629 |
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 | 43.7% | 4,888 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.9% | 4,349 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.3% | 3,057 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.2% | 2,486 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.1% | 1,684 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 1,404 |
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 | 1,816 | 32.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,071 | 31.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,303 | 35.3% |
| 90-120k | 960 | 36.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,006 | 33.6% |
| Diesel | 179 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,477 | 33.8% |
| 2022 | 2,772 | 34.1% |
| 2023 | 2,124 | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 1,596 | 32.7% |
| 2025 | 1,216 | 32.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Fiesta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 18.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (18.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (16.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
66.4% of the 11,185 1998 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Ford Fiesta?
Suspension, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by brakes (16.3%).
Does the 1998 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.3% in the 0-30k band to 36.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,185 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.