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

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 Galaxy?

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 Galaxy?

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 Galaxy vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

21% 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 Galaxy reliable?

Based on MOT data from 11,524 vehicles, the 1998 Ford Galaxy has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.2%, 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 Galaxy?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Ford Galaxy are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (70.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (61% 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 Galaxy?

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 Galaxy (1998)

11,524 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Ford Galaxy

CarHunch analysed 11,524 real MOT records for the 1998 Ford Galaxy. 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 Ford Galaxy has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 66.2%, significantly below the UK average of 80%, and one in five of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—both serious red flags for a buyer. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly (65.7% and 67.5% respectively), so fuel type won't rescue your odds here.

These Galaxies are typically running around 106,000 miles at MOT, which is reasonable for their age, but they're averaging 3.62 failures and a worrying 15.8 advisories per test, suggesting chronic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before committing to one, have a full pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the Galaxy's known weak points—suspension, electrics, and cooling system issues are common culprits at this age.

The 1998 Ford Galaxy has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.2% 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

66.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

20.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.62

Over 10.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

106k

Middle half: 89k–126k

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 15.8 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 11,524 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 11,524 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 71.6%

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.

Lighting 61%

Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment · Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment · Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · …

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

Brake wear 59.4%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · …

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

Other issues 40.5%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak

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 11,524 Ford Galaxy cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

65.7%

Petrol

8,009 vehicles

67.5%

Diesel

3,493 vehicles

Before you buy a 1998 Ford Galaxy

Based on MOT data from 11,524 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.8% 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 (69%)	8,009	65.7%	3.63
Diesel (30%)	3,493	67.5%	3.61

Colour Breakdown

Based on 197,949 Ford Galaxy vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 29.5%

58,464

Blue 25.2%

49,888

Black 17.5%

34,656

Red 8.6%

16,968

Grey 8.4%

16,665

Green 6.7%

13,349

White 2.9%

5,822

Gold 0.4%

697

Brown 0.3%

632

Orange 0.2%

406

Purple 0.1%

255

Maroon 0.1%

147

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Ford Galaxy 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.

106,014

typical

88,608

low mileage

126,435

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Ford Galaxy vehicles fall between 88,608 and 126,435 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 88,608 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.

✓ 88,608–126,435 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Ford Galaxys sit.

⚠ Over 170,687 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 Galaxy — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1998 Ford Galaxys are still active.

Numbers are declining — 140 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* 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

10.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.62

Avg failures per vehicle

15.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on