1998 Honda Cr-V — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,086 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Honda Cr-V, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 68.8% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (71.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.9% in the 150k+ group versus 22.5% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.3% | 595 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 384 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 328 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 317 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.7% | 208 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 185 |
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 | 385 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 370 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 216 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 192 |
| 5 | Joints | 171 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 158 |
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 | 46.3% | 1,430 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.2% | 779 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.1% | 683 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.9% | 644 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 567 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.3% | 566 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 151 | 22.5% |
| 60-90k | 334 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 898 | 30.2% |
| 120-150k | 907 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 786 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 982 | 32.5% |
| 2022 | 764 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 563 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 429 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 348 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Cr-V
Before buying a 1998 Honda Cr-V, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 19.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (19.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.6% 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 Honda Cr-Vs pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 3,086 1998 Honda Cr-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Honda Cr-V?
Suspension, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.4%).
Does the 1998 Cr-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.5% in the 30-60k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,086 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.