1998 Vauxhall Brava — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Vauxhall Brava passed 68.5% of its 340 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests against 14.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Brava fails 33.3% of the time in the 60-90k band and 30.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.8 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 32.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 35.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 69 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.4% | 49 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 46 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 38 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 38 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 30 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 21 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 20 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 17 |
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 | 41.5% | 141 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.5% | 131 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.1% | 92 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.8% | 57 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.6% | 53 |
| 6 | Steering | 15.3% | 52 |
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 | 51 | 33.3% |
| 90-120k | 84 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 91 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 32.9% |
| 2022 | 71 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 68 | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 62 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 54 | 35.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Brava
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.4% 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.
- Brakes (13.5% 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 Vauxhall Bravas pass their MOT?
68.5% of the 340 1998 Vauxhall Brava MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Vauxhall Brava?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.4%).
Does the 1998 Brava get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.3% in the 60-90k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 340 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.