Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 LDV Cub?

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 LDV Cub?

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 LDV Cub?

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 LDV Cub vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% 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 LDV Cub reliable?

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles, the 1998 LDV Cub has a first-time MOT pass rate of 62.9%, 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 LDV Cub?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 LDV Cub are: Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (62.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (52.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (51.9% 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 LDV Cub?

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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LDV Cub (1998)

235 real MOT outcomes analysed • 62.9% first-time pass rate

1998 LDV Cub

CarHunch analysed 235 real MOT records for the 1998 LDV Cub. 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 LDV Cub is a significantly less reliable proposition than the average UK car, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 62.9% against the national average of 80%. Nearly a quarter of these vehicles (24.7%) have recorded dangerous defects, which is a serious concern for anyone considering purchase—this is well above typical thresholds and suggests structural or safety issues are common.

These Cubs are showing their age at around 100,000 miles median, and they're racking up serious maintenance needs with an average of 3.85 failures per test and 14.7 advisories, indicating widespread wear across multiple systems. If you're thinking of buying one, budget for significant repairs immediately after purchase and have a full pre-purchase inspection by a diesel specialist, because the failure patterns suggest these vans need constant attention to stay roadworthy.

We have limited data for the 1998 LDV Cub — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

62.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

24.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.85

Over 9.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

101k

Middle half: 80k–125k

For context

These stats describe 235 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 235 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 62.4%

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 52.5%

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

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

Other issues 31.8%

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 235 LDV Cub cars.

Before you buy a 1998 LDV Cub

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.7% 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
Diesel (100%)	234	62.9%	3.84

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,696 LDV Cub vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 64.2%

3,013

Blue 14.2%

669

Red 11.4%

537

Green 3.8%

177

Yellow 2.2%

104

Grey 2%

Orange 0.7%

Silver 0.6%

Maroon 0.5%

Black 0.2%

Cream 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 LDV Cub 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.

100,528

typical

80,176

low mileage

125,280

high mileage

Half of all 1998 LDV Cub vehicles fall between 80,176 and 125,280 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 80,176 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.

✓ 80,176–125,280 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 LDV Cubs sit.

⚠ Over 169,128 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 LDV Cub — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 21% of 1998 LDV Cubs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2019 (21% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2019.

MOT History Averages

9.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.85

Avg failures per vehicle

14.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — LDV Cub: All Cub years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000 2001 2002

Or browse all models: LDV →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 LDV Cub stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on