1998 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Vauxhall Corsa passed 73.8% of its 6,507 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 29.3% of the time, so this is 3.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests against 11.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 680 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.8% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.4% in 2021 to 24.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 1,007 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 736 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 558 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.2% | 535 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 453 |
| 6 | Brakes | 6.5% | 423 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 680 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 456 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 331 |
| 4 | Wipers | 330 |
| 5 | Washers | 321 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 313 |
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 | 37.0% | 2,409 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.0% | 1,624 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.2% | 1,508 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.3% | 1,385 |
| 5 | Brakes | 19.4% | 1,261 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.9% | 1,097 |
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 | 405 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,264 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,336 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,092 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 279 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 125 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,310 | 26.3% |
| Diesel | 197 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,050 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 1,559 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 1,202 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 954 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 742 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Corsa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.6% 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+.
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 Corsas pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 6,507 1998 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Vauxhall Corsa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.3%).
Does the 1998 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,507 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.