1998 Hyundai Accent — MOT failures & pass rate
444 MOT tests on the 1998 Hyundai Accent are in this dataset, and 70.5% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail at 29.3%, so the 1998 Accent sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.6%) and lighting & signalling (13.7%) 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 wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 49 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.3% versus 26.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.6% | 65 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 61 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.4% | 55 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 44 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 37 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 26 |
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 | 49 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 27 |
| 3 | Wipers | 26 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 23 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 21 |
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 | 41.0% | 182 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.0% | 129 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.8% | 128 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.3% | 108 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.3% | 90 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 59 |
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 | 151 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 165 | 31.5% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 149 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 105 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 78 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 61 | 34.4% |
| 2025 | 51 | 37.3% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Accent
On a 1998 Accent, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.4% 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 Hyundai Accents pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 444 1998 Hyundai Accent MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Hyundai Accent?
Suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.7%).
Does the 1998 Accent get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.5% in the 30-60k band to 32.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 444 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.