1998 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,131 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Ford Fiesta, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 66.4% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (70.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.7% | 2,080 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 1,809 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 1,501 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 1,276 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 755 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 564 |
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 | 1,595 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 959 |
| 3 | Joints | 870 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 753 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 747 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 629 |
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 | 43.8% | 4,871 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.9% | 4,328 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.4% | 3,052 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.2% | 2,475 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.0% | 1,671 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.5% | 1,396 |
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 | 1,802 | 32.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,051 | 31.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,289 | 35.3% |
| 90-120k | 957 | 37.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,991 | 33.6% |
| Diesel | 140 | 30.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,456 | 33.8% |
| 2022 | 2,760 | 34.1% |
| 2023 | 2,115 | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 1,590 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 1,210 | 32.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Fiesta
Before buying a 1998 Ford Fiesta, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 18.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (18.7% 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.
- Brakes (16.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% 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 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
66.4% of the 11,131 1998 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Ford Fiesta?
Suspension, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by brakes (16.3%).
Does the 1998 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.3% in the 0-30k band to 37.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,131 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.