1998 Renault Laguna — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 324 MOT tests, the 1998 Renault Laguna recorded a 72.5% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.1%) and suspension (13.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and exhaust system — headlamp aim alone was recorded 27 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.3% versus 15.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.3% in 2021 to 22.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 49 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.3% | 43 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 39 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.9% | 29 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 25 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.9% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 23 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 18 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 15 |
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 | 28.7% | 93 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.6% | 83 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.9% | 71 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.6% | 70 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.8% | 64 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 64 |
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 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 59 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 99 | 34.3% |
| 2022 | 76 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 68 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 45 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 36 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Laguna
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.0% 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+.
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 Renault Lagunas pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 324 1998 Renault Laguna MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Renault Laguna?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.3%).
Does the 1998 Laguna get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 30-60k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 324 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.