Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Ford Explorer?

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 Ford Explorer?

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 Ford Explorer?

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 Ford Explorer vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 Ford Explorer reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,910 vehicles, the 1998 Ford Explorer has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.8%, 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 Ford Explorer?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Ford Explorer are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (97.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (42.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (41.5% 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 Ford Explorer?

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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Ford Explorer (1998)

1,910 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.8% first-time pass rate

1998 Ford Explorer

CarHunch analysed 1,910 real MOT records for the 1998 Ford Explorer. 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 Ford Explorer passes its MOT first time in only 68.8% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 30% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a genuinely concerning figure that should make any buyer pause. This is a vehicle with real structural or safety issues lurking in the fleet.

At an average mileage of 95,456 miles for a car this age, these Explorers have been well-used, yet they're still racking up an average of 3.12 failures and 13.1 advisories per test—suggesting systemic wear patterns rather than isolated problems. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with this model, and budget for imminent repairs rather than hoping for a trouble-free year.

The 1998 Ford Explorer has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.8% 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

68.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

29.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.12

Over 9.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

91k

Middle half: 76k–110k

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 13.1 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 1,910 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 1,910 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 97.5%

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

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

Tyre wear 36.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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.

Other issues 23%

Oil leak

Exhaust & emissions 20.9%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

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 1,910 Ford Explorer cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Ford Explorer

Based on MOT data from 1,910 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.4% 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 (95%)	1,823	68.9%	3.1
LPG (4%)	74	69%	3.49

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,536 Ford Explorer vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 25.9%

1,950

Blue 18.4%

1,383

Red 16.1%

1,213

Black 15.5%

1,169

Silver 7.8%

588

White 5.9%

443

Grey 5.5%

414

Purple 3.2%

240

Brown 0.8%

Gold 0.6%

Maroon 0.3%

Bronze 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Ford Explorer 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.

91,468

typical

76,266

low mileage

109,711

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Ford Explorer vehicles fall between 76,266 and 109,711 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 76,266 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.

✓ 76,266–109,711 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Ford Explorers sit.

⚠ Over 148,109 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Ford Explorer — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 10% of 1998 Ford Explorers are still active.

Numbers are declining — 50 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

9.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.12

Avg failures per vehicle

13.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Explorer: All Explorer years → Which year to buy? →

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