1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for Fiesta Lx Diesel models manufactured in 1998, based on 100 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all Fiesta Lx Diesel cars tested in 1998. Want to see how cars built in 1998 hold up over time?
View 1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel vintage page → (30.0% current pass rate)1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel MOT Analysis
The 1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel has an MOT pass rate of 30.0% based on 100 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 56,175 miles on the odometer. With a 70.0% failure rate, the 1998 Fiesta Lx Diesel is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel is Brakes, responsible for 136.0% of failures. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs range from £150–400. Suspension is the second most common issue at 132.0%. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment follows at 86.0%.
Top failures specific to 1998 models only. The overall Fiesta Lx Diesel page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 136.0% | 136 |
| 2 | Suspension | 132.0% | 132 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 86.0% | 86 |
| 4 | Tyres | 49.0% | 49 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 28.0% | 28 |
| 6 | Body, Structure And General Items | 24.0% | 24 |
| 7 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 23.0% | 23 |
| 8 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 11.0% | 11 |
| 9 | Steering | 8.0% | 8 |
| 10 | Road Wheels | 5.0% | 5 |
| 11 | Registration Plates And Vin | 4.0% | 4 |
| 12 | Items Not Tested | 3.0% | 3 |
| 13 | Towbars | 1.0% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 56,175 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
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| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 24.21 | 136.0% | 136 |
| Suspension | 23.50 | 132.0% | 132 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 15.31 | 86.0% | 86 |
| Tyres | 8.72 | 49.0% | 49 |
| Visibility | 4.98 | 28.0% | 28 |
| Body & Structure | 4.27 | 24.0% | 24 |
| Seat Belts | 4.09 | 23.0% | 23 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.96 | 11.0% | 11 |
| Steering | 1.42 | 8.0% | 8 |
| Wheels | 0.89 | 5.0% | 5 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.71 | 4.0% | 4 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.53 | 3.0% | 3 |
| Towbars | 0.18 | 1.0% | 1 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel has an MOT pass rate of 30.0% based on 100 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 56,175 miles on the odometer. With a 70.0% failure rate, the 1998 Fiesta Lx Diesel is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel, be prepared for above-average maintenance costs. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to brakes: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm). At 56,175 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.
Brakes — 136.0% of failures
Brakes issues account for 136.0% of MOT failures on 1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 132.0% of failures
Suspension issues account for 132.0% of MOT failures on 1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 86.0% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 86.0% of MOT failures on 1998 Ford Fiesta Lx Diesel models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.