1998 Nissan 200 Sx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Nissan 200 Sx passed 89.0% of its 511 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.6% of the time, so this is 14.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.7%) and emissions & environmental (6.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 200 Sx fails 9.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 10.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.4% in 2021 to 10.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 34 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.1% | 26 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 16 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 12 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 28 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 13 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Washers | 10 |
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 | 18.8% | 96 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.2% | 88 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.3% | 73 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.3% | 58 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.8% | 55 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.3% | 32 |
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 | 51 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 104 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 175 | 13.1% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 6.0% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 10.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 127 | 13.4% |
| 2022 | 102 | 13.7% |
| 2023 | 94 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 85 | 8.2% |
| 2025 | 103 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 1998 200 Sx
On a 1998 200 Sx, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (5.1% 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.
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 Nissan 200 Sxs pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 511 1998 Nissan 200 Sx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Nissan 200 Sx?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (6.3%).
Does the 1998 200 Sx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 30-60k band to 10.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 511 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.