1998 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,648 MOT tests, the 1998 Toyota Avensis recorded a 73.7% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 1998 Avensis comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.8%) and emissions & environmental (11.4%) 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 position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 388 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.8% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 339 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 302 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 257 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.4% | 249 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 176 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 156 |
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 | 388 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 262 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 152 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 128 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 124 |
| 6 | Wipers | 105 |
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 | 28.9% | 765 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.9% | 739 |
| 3 | Other defects | 25.6% | 679 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.5% | 675 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.7% | 415 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 382 |
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 | 171 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 501 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 707 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 586 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 663 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,609 | 26.1% |
| Diesel | 39 | 38.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 919 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 685 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 465 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 343 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 236 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Avensis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (9.7% 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 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 2,648 1998 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.4%).
Does the 1998 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 30-60k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,648 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.