Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Fiat Ulysse?

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 Fiat Ulysse?

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 Fiat Ulysse?

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.

How many 1998 Fiat Ulysse vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1998 Fiat Ulysse reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,304 vehicles, the 1998 Fiat Ulysse has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65.9%, 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 Fiat Ulysse?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Fiat Ulysse are: Oil leak (74.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (47.8% 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 Fiat Ulysse?

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.

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Fiat Ulysse (1998)

1,304 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.9% first-time pass rate

1998 Fiat Ulysse

CarHunch analysed 1,304 real MOT records for the 1998 Fiat Ulysse. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 Fiat Ulysse passes its MOT first time in only 66% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly a quarter of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects—a significant safety concern for a family MPV. Diesel models fare slightly better at 68% pass rate versus 65% for petrol, but the difference is marginal given the overall weakness.

At nearly 112,000 miles on average, these are genuinely high-mileage examples, yet they still rack up an average of 3.3 failures per test plus 10 advisories, pointing to accumulated wear across multiple systems rather than one critical issue. If you're seriously considering one, factor in the likelihood of imminent repairs—budget for suspension, brakes, and exhaust work before purchase, and ask for a full service history to confirm whether major components have been replaced.

The 1998 Fiat Ulysse has a below-average first-time pass rate (65.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

65.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

22.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.33

Over 9.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

98k

Middle half: 82k–116k

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 10 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 1,304 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 1,304 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 74.8%

Oil leak · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Tyre wear 48.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

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

Brake wear 28.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Lighting 18.9%

Nearside Stop lamp not working · Offside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

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 1,304 Fiat Ulysse cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

64.8%

Petrol

770 vehicles

67.6%

Diesel

531 vehicles

Before you buy a 1998 Fiat Ulysse

Based on MOT data from 1,304 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.4% 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 (59%)	770	64.8%	3.51
Diesel (41%)	531	67.6%	3.06

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,082 Fiat Ulysse vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 37.4%

4,142

Grey 19.7%

2,187

Red 17%

1,880

Green 11.4%

1,259

Black 11.1%

1,225

White 3.1%

342

Silver 0.4%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Fiat Ulysse 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.

97,519

typical

81,699

low mileage

116,410

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Fiat Ulysse vehicles fall between 81,699 and 116,410 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 81,699 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.

✓ 81,699–116,410 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Fiat Ulysses sit.

⚠ Over 157,153 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Fiat Ulysse — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1998 Fiat Ulysses are still active.

Numbers are declining — 13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
* 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

9.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.33

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Fiat Ulysse: All Ulysse years → Which year to buy? →

1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: Fiat →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Fiat Ulysse stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on