1998 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
579 MOT tests on the 1998 Nissan Skyline are in this dataset, and 91.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (25.4% fail rate), the 1998 Skyline comes out 16.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.4% of tests against 3.5% 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 36 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 19.1% once past 150k — 4.9× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 9.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.3% in 2021 to 7.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 43 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.5% | 20 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.9% | 17 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 11 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.6% | 9 |
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 | 36 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 15 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 15 |
| 5 | Washers | 14 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 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 | 9.8% | 57 |
| 2 | Tyres | 9.8% | 57 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 43 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 34 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.2% | 30 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 20 |
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 | 78 | 3.9% |
| 60-90k | 200 | 7.0% |
| 90-120k | 153 | 7.8% |
| 120-150k | 83 | 13.3% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 105 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 108 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 99 | 4.0% |
| 2024 | 127 | 5.5% |
| 2025 | 140 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Skyline
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (3.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Skylines pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 579 1998 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Nissan Skyline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.5%).
Does the 1998 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.9% in the 30-60k band to 19.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 579 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.