1998 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
642 MOT tests on the 1998 Renault Master are in this dataset, and 63.4% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 29.6% of the time, so this is 7.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (20.4%) and lighting & signalling (17.4%) 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, integral vehicle structure condition and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 181 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 33.0% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 37.4% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 38.5% in 2021 to 31.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.4% | 131 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 112 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.8% | 108 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 91 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.8% | 63 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.4% | 54 |
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 | 181 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 98 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 66 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 53 |
| 5 | Washers | 44 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 38 |
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 | 34.1% | 219 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.4% | 189 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 29.4% | 189 |
| 4 | Brakes | 28.8% | 185 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.5% | 119 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.2% | 104 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 88 | 33.0% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 36.7% |
| 120-150k | 150 | 39.3% |
| 150k+ | 211 | 37.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 169 | 38.5% |
| 2022 | 154 | 35.7% |
| 2023 | 133 | 40.6% |
| 2024 | 98 | 33.7% |
| 2025 | 88 | 31.8% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Master
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.4% 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 (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.8% 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.
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 Masters pass their MOT?
63.4% of the 642 1998 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 36.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Renault Master?
Suspension, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.4%).
Does the 1998 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.0% in the 60-90k band to 37.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 642 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.