1998 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
612 MOT tests on the 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer are in this dataset, and 90.7% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the 1998 Lancer comes out 17.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.2%) and emissions & environmental (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rear fog lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Lancer fails 11.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 7.4% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 8.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 44 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 31 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 20 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 12 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 11 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.8% | 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 | 39 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 17 |
| 5 | Wipers | 15 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 11 |
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 | 8.5% | 52 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 48 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.7% | 41 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 38 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.1% | 25 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.8% | 17 |
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 | 73 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 268 | 8.2% |
| 90-120k | 163 | 9.8% |
| 120-150k | 54 | 7.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 99 | 8.1% |
| 2022 | 137 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 106 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | 133 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 137 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Lancer
On a 1998 Lancer, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (3.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 612 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.1%).
Does the 1998 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 30-60k band to 7.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 612 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.