1998 Vauxhall Monterey — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 349 MOT tests, the 1998 Vauxhall Monterey recorded a 73.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 25.7%, so the 1998 Monterey sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (15.2%) and brakes (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, ball joint and exhaust system — joints alone was recorded 30 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.4% of 90-120k cars fail, rising to 31.9% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 47.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 53 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 50 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.8% | 41 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 30 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 26 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 22 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 17 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 16 |
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 | 47.9% | 167 |
| 2 | Brakes | 47.0% | 164 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 41.3% | 144 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.7% | 93 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.3% | 64 |
| 6 | Steering | 16.3% | 57 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 55 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 93 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 163 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 257 | 28.8% |
| Petrol | 92 | 19.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 79 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 66 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 56 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 50 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Monterey
On a 1998 Monterey, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.2% 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+.
- Brakes (14.3% 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.
- Suspension (11.8% 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 Vauxhall Montereys pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 349 1998 Vauxhall Monterey MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Vauxhall Monterey?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by brakes (14.3%).
Does the 1998 Monterey get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 90-120k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 349 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.