Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Daewoo Nubira?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1998 Daewoo Nubira?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1998 Daewoo Nubira?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1998 Daewoo Nubira reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,189 vehicles, the 1998 Daewoo Nubira has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65.3%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Daewoo Nubira?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Daewoo Nubira are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (35.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (29.6% of vehicles), Oil leak (29.5% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Daewoo Nubira?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Daewoo Nubira (1998)

5,189 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.3% first-time pass rate

1998 Daewoo Nubira

CarHunch analysed 5,189 real MOT records for the 1998 Daewoo Nubira. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 Daewoo Nubira struggles significantly on the MOT bench, with a first-time pass rate of just 65.3%—well below the UK average of 80%—suggesting these cars tend to need repairs before passing their test. While the dangerous defect rate of 17.1% isn't extreme, it's still a concern worth taking seriously when evaluating an example.

At an average mileage of 73,604, these cars have covered typical distances for their age, but the real story emerges in the failures: owners can expect nearly two failed items per MOT and an average of 5.6 advisories, pointing to widespread wear across multiple systems rather than one specific weak spot. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection and budget for immediate repairs—this is a model where condition varies widely, and buying the wrong example could quickly become expensive.

The 1998 Daewoo Nubira has a below-average first-time pass rate (65.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

65.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

17.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.97

Over 5.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

71k

Middle half: 57k–86k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 5,189 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,189 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 35.7%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 29.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 29.5%

Oil leak

Suspension & steering 21%

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,189 Daewoo Nubira cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Daewoo Nubira

Based on MOT data from 5,189 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 17.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	5,175	65.3%	1.97

Colour Breakdown

Based on 18,633 Daewoo Nubira vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 30.8%

5,745

Green 28.8%

5,361

Blue 15.4%

2,867

Red 15.4%

2,866

White 4.9%

909

Black 2.3%

426

Grey 2.2%

409

Brown 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Daewoo Nubira vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

70,848

typical

57,155

low mileage

86,220

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Daewoo Nubira vehicles fall between 57,155 and 86,220 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,155 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 57,155–86,220 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Daewoo Nubiras sit.

⚠ Over 116,397 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Daewoo Nubira — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 1998 Daewoo Nubiras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2020 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2020.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

5.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.97

Avg failures per vehicle

5.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Daewoo Nubira: All Nubira years → Which year to buy? →

1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: Daewoo →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Daewoo Nubira stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on