1998 Ford Puma — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Ford Puma passed 67.4% of its 1,068 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.2 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 28.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 18.1% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 138 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Puma fails 34.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 34.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.5% in 2021 to 30.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.1% | 193 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 152 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 122 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 99 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 63 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.1% | 54 |
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 | 138 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 80 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 73 |
| 4 | Joints | 69 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 68 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 50 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 39.9% | 426 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.8% | 393 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.5% | 240 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.9% | 213 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.8% | 201 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 141 |
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 | 221 | 34.8% |
| 30-60k | 271 | 29.9% |
| 60-90k | 436 | 33.0% |
| 90-120k | 134 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 272 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 254 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 211 | 33.7% |
| 2024 | 185 | 33.5% |
| 2025 | 146 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Puma
On a 1998 Puma, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.1% 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 (14.2% 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 (11.4% 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 Pumas pass their MOT?
67.4% of the 1,068 1998 Ford Puma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Ford Puma?
Suspension, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by brakes (14.2%).
Does the 1998 Puma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,068 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.