1998 Honda Prelude — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Honda Prelude passed 71.8% of its 1,204 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.6% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.0%) and emissions & environmental (11.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and rbt (sp) — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 178 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.7% in the 30-60k band and 32.9% in the 150k+ band, a 18.2-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.5% 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 | 13.0% | 156 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 143 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 137 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.7% | 129 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 85 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 77 |
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 | 178 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 100 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 66 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 62 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 61 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 60 |
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 | 39.5% | 475 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.0% | 349 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.5% | 331 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.9% | 252 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.2% | 231 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 125 |
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 | 68 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 290 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 369 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 245 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 216 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 298 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 277 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 235 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 193 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 201 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Prelude
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
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 Preludes pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 1,204 1998 Honda Prelude MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Honda Prelude?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.9%).
Does the 1998 Prelude get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 30-60k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,204 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.