1998 Ford Cougar — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

42.1%

Latest Pass Rate

4,723

Total Tests (All Years)

101,865 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Ford Cougar as it ages.

11 yrs46.4%

→ ↑0.8%

12 yrs47.2%

→ ↓4.5%

13 yrs42.7%

→ ↓2.3%

14 yrs40.4%

→ ↑0.1%

15 yrs40.5%

→ ↓1.3%

16 yrs39.2%

→ ↑8.2%

17 yrs47.4%

→ ↓11.8%

18 yrs35.6%

→ ↑0.8%

19 yrs36.4%

→ ↑3.6%

20 yrs40.0%

→ ↑10.0%

21 yrs50.0%

→ ↓9.5%

22 yrs40.5%

→ ↑7.2%

23 yrs47.7%

→ ↓5.6%

26 yrs42.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	46.4%	1,020
12 yrs	47.2%	907
13 yrs	42.7%	776
14 yrs	40.4%	582
15 yrs	40.5%	439
16 yrs	39.2%	309
17 yrs	47.4%	196
18 yrs	35.6%	149
19 yrs	36.4%	107
20 yrs	40.0%	60
21 yrs	50.0%	40
22 yrs	40.5%	37
23 yrs	47.7%	44
26 yrs	42.1%	57

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Ford Cougar pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	42.1%	57
2021 (23 yrs)	47.7%	44
2020 (22 yrs)	40.5%	37
2019 (21 yrs)	50%	40
2018 (20 yrs)	40%	60
2017 (19 yrs)	36.4%	107
2016 (18 yrs)	35.6%	149
2015 (17 yrs)	47.4%	196
2014 (16 yrs)	39.2%	309
2013 (15 yrs)	40.5%	439
2012 (14 yrs)	40.4%	582
2011 (13 yrs)	42.7%	776
2010 (12 yrs)	47.2%	907
2009 (11 yrs)	46.4%	1,020

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.4%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 1,020Avg Mileage 91,952Top Failure Brakes — 36.3%

2010High Fail Rate

47.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 907Avg Mileage 96,163Top Failure Brakes — 38.8%

2011High Fail Rate

42.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 776Avg Mileage 102,008Top Failure Brakes — 39.8%

2012High Fail Rate

40.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 582Avg Mileage 101,655Top Failure Brakes — 43.8%

2013High Fail Rate

40.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 439Avg Mileage 102,614Top Failure Brakes — 132.3%

2014High Fail Rate

39.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 309Avg Mileage 101,632Top Failure Brakes — 119.7%

2015High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 196Avg Mileage 100,783Top Failure Brakes — 117.9%

2016High Fail Rate

35.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 149Avg Mileage 98,582Top Failure Brakes — 146.3%

2017High Fail Rate

36.4%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 107Avg Mileage 100,647Top Failure Brakes — 135.5%

2018High Fail Rate

40.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 60Avg Mileage 105,102Top Failure Suspension — 158.3%

2019High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 40Avg Mileage 89,046Top Failure Suspension — 137.5%

2020High Fail Rate

40.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 37Avg Mileage 93,944Top Failure Suspension — 143.2%

2021High Fail Rate

47.7%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 44Avg Mileage 91,547Top Failure Suspension — 134.1%

2024High Fail Rate

42.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 57Avg Mileage 101,865Top Failure Suspension — 164.9%

MOT results for 1998 Ford Cougar by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	46.4%	1,020	91,952	Brakes — 36.3%
2010	12	47.2%	907	96,163	Brakes — 38.8%
2011	13	42.7%	776	102,008	Brakes — 39.8%
2012	14	40.4%	582	101,655	Brakes — 43.8%
2013	15	40.5%	439	102,614	Brakes — 132.3%
2014	16	39.2%	309	101,632	Brakes — 119.7%
2015	17	47.4%	196	100,783	Brakes — 117.9%
2016	18	35.6%	149	98,582	Brakes — 146.3%
2017	19	36.4%	107	100,647	Brakes — 135.5%
2018	20	40.0%	60	105,102	Suspension — 158.3%
2019	21	50.0%	40	89,046	Suspension — 137.5%
2020	22	40.5%	37	93,944	Suspension — 143.2%
2021	23	47.7%	44	91,547	Suspension — 134.1%
2024	26	42.1%	57	101,865	Suspension — 164.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Ford Cougar, with age trends.

Suspension

101.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

94.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

51.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

47.3%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

43.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	27.1% (11 yrs)	164.9% (26 yrs)	+137.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	36.3% (11 yrs)	87.7% (26 yrs)	+51.4%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1998 1999 2000 2001

← Back to Ford Cougar overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Ford Cougar page →

About This Data

This page shows how Ford Cougar cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,723 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.