1998 Hyundai Accent — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 444 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Hyundai Accent, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.5% was below the average for cars of a similar age (75.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.3% in the 120-150k group versus 26.5% in the 30-60k group.

Pass rate

444

MOT tests analysed

29.5%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

24.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1998 Hyundai Accent
#	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

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1998 Hyundai Accent
#	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	Service brake imbalance	21

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1998 Hyundai Accent
#	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.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1998 Accent
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

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1998 Accent
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

Before buying a 1998 Hyundai Accent, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 14.6% of tests for this year.

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 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.