1998 Subaru Impreza — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Subaru Impreza passed 83.1% of its 2,492 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.9 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and emissions & environmental (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 236 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.9% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 237 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 181 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 178 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 119 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 114 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 94 |
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 | 236 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 181 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 120 |
| 4 | Washers | 66 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 61 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 52 |
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 | 23.7% | 590 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.5% | 510 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 341 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 289 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.1% | 277 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 216 |
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 | 111 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 229 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 575 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 661 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 497 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 332 | 19.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 532 | 17.5% |
| 2022 | 527 | 16.9% |
| 2023 | 495 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 478 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 460 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Impreza
On a 1998 Impreza, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (7.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (7.1% 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 Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 2,492 1998 Subaru Impreza MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Subaru Impreza?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (7.3%).
Does the 1998 Impreza get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 19.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,492 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.