1998 Isuzu Trooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,596 MOT tests, the 1998 Isuzu Trooper recorded a 75.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (24.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (14.1%) and lighting & signalling (13.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, service brake performance and position lamp — joints alone was recorded 124 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.7% versus 12.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 44.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.6% in 2021 to 23.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 225 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 208 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.9% | 190 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.0% | 175 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 93 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 74 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 124 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 112 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 87 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 83 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 77 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 69 |
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 | 44.7% | 713 |
| 2 | Brakes | 39.0% | 622 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.6% | 489 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.7% | 283 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.5% | 248 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.7% | 235 |
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 | 49 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 77 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 381 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 399 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 631 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,479 | 25.2% |
| Petrol | 117 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 418 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 368 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 307 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 277 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 226 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Trooper
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.1% 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+.
- 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.
- Brakes (11.9% 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 Isuzu Troopers pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 1,596 1998 Isuzu Trooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Isuzu Trooper?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.0%).
Does the 1998 Trooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 30-60k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,596 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.