Ford Ka (1998)
1998 Ford Ka
CarHunch analysed 35,352 real MOT records for the 1998 Ford Ka. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1998 Ford Ka has a 62.4% first-time MOT pass rate—well below the UK average of 80%—and nearly 27% of examples have suffered dangerous defects at some point, which is a genuine red flag for safety-critical systems. This is a car that demands close mechanical scrutiny before purchase.
These Kas are running at modest mileage for their age (around 60,000 miles median), yet averaging 3.5 failures and 12.8 advisories per test, suggesting wear issues are widespread rather than linked to high miles alone. Before committing to one, have a trusted mechanic run a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, suspension, and steering—the systems most likely to generate those dangerous defects—and budget for near-term repairs.
What to check before buying a 1998 Ford Ka
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 26.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Ford Ka
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 35,333 | 62.4% | 3.48 |
| Diesel (0%) | 14 | 69.4% | 2.93 |
| Other (0%) | 4 | 62.5% | 1 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 Ford Ka vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1998 Ford Ka vehicles fall between 49,278 and 72,166 miles.
1998 Ford Ka — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 281 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2020 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2020.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Ford Ka
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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58.4%
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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58%
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
-
54.1%
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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53.1%
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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52.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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52.7%
Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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52.1%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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50.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ford Ka?
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