1998 Honda Civic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,103 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Honda Civic, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension. Its pass rate of 73.5% was above the average for small family cars of a similar age (72.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.1% in the 150k+ group versus 15.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 1,159 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 874 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 758 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.3% | 750 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 617 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 452 |
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 | 710 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 595 |
| 3 | Joints | 477 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 466 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 376 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 372 |
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 | 36.5% | 2,962 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.1% | 1,956 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.6% | 1,916 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 1,590 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.0% | 1,296 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 1,012 |
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 | 103 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,261 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,432 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,271 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,278 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 746 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,283 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 1,888 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 1,569 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 1,283 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 1,080 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Civic
Before buying a 1998 Honda Civic, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.8% 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+.
- Suspension (9.3% 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 Civics pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 8,103 1998 Honda Civic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Honda Civic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.8%).
Does the 1998 Civic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,103 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.