1998 Toyota Camry — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Toyota Camry passed 77.5% of its 418 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 27.3% of the time, so this is 4.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.6%) and emissions & environmental (8.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, joints and linkage ball joints — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 42 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.9% versus 15.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.0% in 2021 to 18.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.6% | 36 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 36 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 33 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 32 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.3% | 22 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.4% | 14 |
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 | 42 |
| 2 | Joints | 24 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 17 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | Brakes | 29.2% | 122 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.7% | 120 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.9% | 104 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.3% | 85 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 64 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 43 |
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 | 33 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 103 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 97 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 95 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 83 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 68 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 60 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Camry
On a 1998 Camry, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (8.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Camrys pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 418 1998 Toyota Camry MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Toyota Camry?
Suspension, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (8.6%).
Does the 1998 Camry get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 30-60k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 418 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.