1998 LDV Convoy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 LDV Convoy passed 66.1% of its 325 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.6% of the time, so this is 8.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (20.3%) and lighting & signalling (18.8%) 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, prescribed areas and service brake imbalance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 47 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Convoy fails 34.1% of the time in the 30-60k band and 37.5% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.3% | 66 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 61 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 42 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.0% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 27 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.8% | 22 |
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 | 47 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 35 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 32 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 31 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 26 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 22 |
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 | 42.1% | 137 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.6% | 106 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.6% | 80 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.0% | 52 |
| 5 | Steering | 14.5% | 47 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.5% | 47 |
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 | 44 | 34.1% |
| 60-90k | 137 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 39.2% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 37.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 36.5% |
| 2022 | 73 | 32.9% |
| 2023 | 52 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 60 | 35.0% |
| 2025 | 55 | 36.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Convoy
On a 1998 Convoy, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (20.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.9% 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+.
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 LDV Convoys pass their MOT?
66.1% of the 325 1998 LDV Convoy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 LDV Convoy?
Brakes, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.8%).
Does the 1998 Convoy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.1% in the 30-60k band to 37.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 325 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.