1998 Toyota Starlet — MOT failures & pass rate
8,354 MOT tests on the 1998 Toyota Starlet are in this dataset, and 75.9% of them passed. That is 1.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.8%) 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 headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 686 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.0% in the 0-30k band and 32.1% in the 150k+ band, a 23.2-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 903 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 732 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.7% | 728 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.6% | 719 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 563 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 446 |
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 | 686 |
| 2 | Joints | 480 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 397 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 369 |
| 5 | Wipers | 353 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 336 |
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 | 39.6% | 3,306 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.5% | 2,128 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 1,807 |
| 4 | Brakes | 21.0% | 1,757 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.7% | 1,148 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.2% | 1,105 |
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 | 167 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,657 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,549 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,268 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,126 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 585 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,103 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 1,855 | 23.5% |
| 2023 | 1,649 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 1,459 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 1,288 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Starlet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.8% 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+.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 Starlets pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 8,354 1998 Toyota Starlet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Toyota Starlet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.8%).
Does the 1998 Starlet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,354 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.