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Hyundai Accent (1998)

10,258 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.3% first-time pass rate

1998 Hyundai Accent

CarHunch analysed 10,258 real MOT records for the 1998 Hyundai Accent. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 11.7% below UK average
68.3%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
71,404
typical mileage
56,728–87,389 middle half
18.4%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.57
avg MOT failures per car
over 7.6 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 Hyundai Accent

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.
  • 📄 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 Hyundai Accent

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 10,254 68.3% 2.57
Diesel (0%) 4 69.1% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Hyundai Accent 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.

56,728
low mileage
71,404
typical
87,389
high mileage

Half of all 1998 Hyundai Accent vehicles fall between 56,728 and 87,389 miles.

1998 Hyundai Accent — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 78 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (6% of peak).

1,319 78 2014 2022

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

MOT History Averages

7.6
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.57
Avg failures per vehicle
7.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Hyundai Accent

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 43.7%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 42.2%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 38.1%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 32.4%
    Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 29.4%
    Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 27.5%
    Oil leak
  • 27%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 26.7%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Hyundai Accent?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Hyundai Accent:

1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008