Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Honda Accord?

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 Honda Accord?

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 Honda Accord?

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 Honda Accord vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% 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 Honda Accord reliable?

Based on MOT data from 10,498 vehicles, the 1998 Honda Accord has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.3%, 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 Honda Accord?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Honda Accord are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56.7% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (42.2% 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 Honda Accord?

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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Honda Accord (1998)

10,498 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.3% first-time pass rate

1998 Honda Accord

CarHunch analysed 10,498 real MOT records for the 1998 Honda Accord. 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 Honda Accord has a 67% first-time pass rate, well below the UK average of 80%, and over a quarter of these cars (25.5%) have recorded dangerous defects during MOT testing — a significant concern for any prospective buyer. This suggests the model is prone to serious issues that pose genuine safety risks, not just minor wear and tear.

At nearly 100,000 miles median mileage, these Accords are running close to their expected age-adjusted wear pattern, yet they're averaging 3.1 failures and 9.5 advisories per test, indicating both structural and maintenance problems are common. Before committing to one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and steering — the likely culprits behind the dangerous defect rate — and factor in repair costs for at least the flagged advisory items.

The 1998 Honda Accord has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.3% 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

67.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

25.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.1

Over 9.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

99k

Middle half: 80k–122k

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 9.5 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 10,498 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 10,498 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 58.9%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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 42.2%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Other issues 24.5%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded

Lighting 16.9%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) 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 10,498 Honda Accord cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Honda Accord

Based on MOT data from 10,498 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.5% 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 (99%)	10,424	67.3%	3.11
Diesel (1%)	61	70.1%	2.13

Colour Breakdown

Based on 202,051 Honda Accord vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 31.9%

64,460

Blue 19.7%

39,803

Black 13%

26,290

Red 12.8%

25,786

Green 10.8%

21,781

Grey 7.7%

15,576

White 2.1%

4,297

Gold 0.8%

1,575

Purple 0.4%

822

Beige 0.4%

753

Bronze 0.2%

464

Brown 0.2%

444

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Honda Accord 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.

99,428

typical

80,038

low mileage

122,096

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Honda Accord vehicles fall between 80,038 and 122,096 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 80,038 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.

✓ 80,038–122,096 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Honda Accords sit.

⚠ Over 164,829 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Honda Accord — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 1998 Honda Accords are still active.

Numbers are declining — 140 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% 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

9.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.1

Avg failures per vehicle

9.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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