1998 Nissan Almera — MOT failures & pass rate
1,430 MOT tests on the 1998 Nissan Almera are in this dataset, and 70.3% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), the 1998 Almera comes out 2.6pp worse. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Body, structure & corrosion dominates the failure mix at 15.0% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, joints and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 264 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.7% in 2021 to 27.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 215 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.9% | 170 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 122 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.3% | 104 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 101 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 74 |
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 | 264 |
| 2 | Joints | 139 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 84 |
| 4 | Wipers | 82 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 76 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 66 |
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 | 36.3% | 519 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 392 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.0% | 386 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.7% | 368 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.5% | 193 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.9% | 156 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 51 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 317 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 433 | 32.8% |
| 90-120k | 387 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 133 | 33.1% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 489 | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 356 | 33.4% |
| 2023 | 247 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 184 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 154 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Almera
On a 1998 Almera, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.0% 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+.
- Suspension (11.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Nissan Almeras pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 1,430 1998 Nissan Almera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Nissan Almera?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by suspension (11.9%).
Does the 1998 Almera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,430 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.