1998 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Honda Accord passed 72.5% of its 1,390 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 27.3%, so the 1998 Accord sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.4%) and brakes (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 137 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.8% in the 30-60k band and 32.4% in the 150k+ band, a 8.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 200 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 164 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 134 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 124 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 117 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 81 |
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 | 137 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 98 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 71 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 61 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 59 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 54 |
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 | 32.8% | 456 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.9% | 444 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.3% | 324 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.7% | 218 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 214 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 194 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 164 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 349 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 410 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 267 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 176 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 408 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 318 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 262 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 214 | 26.2% |
| 2025 | 188 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Accord
On a 1998 Accord, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.8% 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.
- Suspension (9.6% 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.
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 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 1,390 1998 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by brakes (11.8%).
Does the 1998 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.8% in the 30-60k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,390 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.