1998 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 484 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 90.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (76.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.6% in the 90-120k group versus 7.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 17 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.1% | 15 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 15 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.5% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 14 |
| 2 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 8 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 7 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 5 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 5 |
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 | 14.5% | 70 |
| 2 | Tyres | 12.2% | 59 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 42 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 8 |
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 | 83 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 224 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 136 | 11.0% |
| 90-120k | 41 | 14.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 96 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 107 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 93 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 87 | 13.8% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Silver Seraph
Before buying a 1998 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 3.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.1% 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 (3.1% 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 Rolls Royce Silver Seraphs pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 484 1998 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by suspension (3.1%).
Does the 1998 Silver Seraph get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 484 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.