1998 Nissan Primera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Nissan Primera passed 73.7% of its 1,655 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 1998 Primera comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.3%) and brakes (11.7%) 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, catalyst emissions and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 166 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.2% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 203 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 194 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.5% | 174 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 171 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 88 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 80 |
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 | 166 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 84 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 70 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 66 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 66 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
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 | 31.7% | 524 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.2% | 434 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.9% | 396 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.3% | 386 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 305 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.6% | 292 |
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 | 225 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 506 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 420 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 281 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 208 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,625 | 26.3% |
| Diesel | 30 | 23.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 483 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 396 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 334 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 247 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 195 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Primera
On a 1998 Primera, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.7% 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.
- Suspension (10.5% 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 Primeras pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 1,655 1998 Nissan Primera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Nissan Primera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by brakes (11.7%).
Does the 1998 Primera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.7% in the 30-60k band to 33.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,655 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.