1998 Mazda Eunos — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Mazda Eunos passed 73.9% of its 287 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (25.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.2% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 30.3% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.5% in 2021 to 21.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 41 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 28 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 23 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.0% | 20 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 13 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 33 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 17 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 16 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 14 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 13 |
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 | 35.5% | 102 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.0% | 89 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.7% | 68 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.9% | 57 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 38 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.3% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 33 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 82 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 54 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 109 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 70 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 65 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 43 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 41 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Eunos
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 Mazda Eunoss pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 287 1998 Mazda Eunos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Mazda Eunos?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.8%).
Does the 1998 Eunos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 60-90k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 287 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.