1998 Mazda 121 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

48.6%

Latest Pass Rate

2,844

Total Tests (All Years)

57,722 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 48.6%

Average: 55.4%

⚠️ 6.8% below average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mazda 121 as it ages.

11 yrs39.4%

→ ↑0.3%

12 yrs39.7%

→ ↓2.5%

13 yrs37.2%

→ ↓3.0%

14 yrs34.2%

→ ↑0.7%

15 yrs34.9%

→ ↓2.2%

16 yrs32.7%

→ ↑11.3%

17 yrs44.0%

→ ↓2.2%

18 yrs41.8%

→ ↑6.8%

19 yrs48.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	39.4%	657
12 yrs	39.7%	541
13 yrs	37.2%	487
14 yrs	34.2%	371
15 yrs	34.9%	281
16 yrs	32.7%	196
17 yrs	44.0%	141
18 yrs	41.8%	98
19 yrs	48.6%	72

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mazda 121 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (19 yrs)	48.6%	72
2016 (18 yrs)	41.8%	98
2015 (17 yrs)	44%	141
2014 (16 yrs)	32.7%	196
2013 (15 yrs)	34.9%	281
2012 (14 yrs)	34.2%	371
2011 (13 yrs)	37.2%	487
2010 (12 yrs)	39.7%	541
2009 (11 yrs)	39.4%	657

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

39.4%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 657Avg Mileage 58,916Top Failure Brakes — 43.1%

2010High Fail Rate

39.7%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 541Avg Mileage 57,844Top Failure Suspension — 42.7%

2011High Fail Rate

37.2%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 487Avg Mileage 58,033Top Failure Suspension — 45.4%

2012High Fail Rate

34.2%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 371Avg Mileage 59,311Top Failure Suspension — 48.2%

2013High Fail Rate

34.9%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 281Avg Mileage 57,952Top Failure Suspension — 150.5%

2014High Fail Rate

32.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 196Avg Mileage 57,654Top Failure Suspension — 155.6%

2015High Fail Rate

44.0%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 141Avg Mileage 55,681Top Failure Suspension — 124.8%

2016High Fail Rate

41.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 98Avg Mileage 56,760Top Failure Suspension — 134.7%

2017High Fail Rate

48.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 72Avg Mileage 57,722Top Failure Suspension — 123.6%

MOT results for 1998 Mazda 121 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	39.4%	657	58,916	Brakes — 43.1%
2010	12	39.7%	541	57,844	Suspension — 42.7%
2011	13	37.2%	487	58,033	Suspension — 45.4%
2012	14	34.2%	371	59,311	Suspension — 48.2%
2013	15	34.9%	281	57,952	Suspension — 150.5%
2014	16	32.7%	196	57,654	Suspension — 155.6%
2015	17	44.0%	141	55,681	Suspension — 124.8%
2016	18	41.8%	98	56,760	Suspension — 134.7%
2017	19	48.6%	72	57,722	Suspension — 123.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mazda 121, with age trends.

Suspension

96.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

88.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.7%

— Consistent

Tyres

27.6%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

23.8%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	40.2% (11 yrs)	123.6% (19 yrs)	+83.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	43.1% (11 yrs)	118.1% (19 yrs)	+75.0%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	19.0% (11 yrs)	31.9% (19 yrs)	+12.9%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	17.4% (11 yrs)	29.2% (19 yrs)	+11.8%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	27.1% (11 yrs)	29.2% (19 yrs)	+2.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

← Back to Mazda 121 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mazda 121 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mazda 121 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 2,844 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.