1998 Mazda Bongo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,459 MOT tests, the 1998 Mazda Bongo recorded a 67.4% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 30.6% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.8%) and suspension (17.1%) 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, chassis condition and rear fog lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 279 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.6% once past 150k — 4.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (33.9% vs 30.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 35.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 260 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.1% | 250 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 161 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.8% | 129 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 107 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 88 |
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 | 279 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 124 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 95 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 91 |
| 5 | Wipers | 90 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 83 |
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 | 32.1% | 468 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.6% | 403 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.5% | 284 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.6% | 272 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.4% | 268 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 213 |
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 | 35 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 223 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 362 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 330 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 506 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 903 | 33.9% |
| Petrol | 556 | 30.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 173 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 183 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 194 | 33.5% |
| 2024 | 457 | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 452 | 35.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Bongo
On a 1998 Bongo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.0% 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 Mazda Bongos pass their MOT?
67.4% of the 1,459 1998 Mazda Bongo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Mazda Bongo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (17.1%).
Does the 1998 Bongo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 30-60k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,459 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.