Mazda Xedos (1998)
1998 Mazda Xedos
CarHunch analysed 398 real MOT records for the 1998 Mazda Xedos.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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Moderate sample. 398 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.
The 1998 Mazda Xedos has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.2%, which sits notably below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars are more likely to need repairs before passing inspection. With 18.8% of vehicles having recorded a dangerous defect at some point, buyers should budget for potential safety-critical work and have any purchase thoroughly inspected beforehand.
At nearly 94,000 miles on average, these cars carry typical mileage for their age, but they're racking up an average of 2.69 failures and 10.1 advisories per MOT—indicating wear across multiple systems rather than one dominant problem area. Before committing to one, arrange a pre-purchase inspection focused on the braking and suspension systems, where the high advisory count suggests age-related deterioration is most prevalent.
The 1998 Mazda Xedos has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 398 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 398 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
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 398 Mazda Xedos cars.
Before you buy a 1998 Mazda Xedos
Based on MOT data from 398 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
18.8% 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. -
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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
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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
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Colour Breakdown
Based on 3,025 Mazda Xedos vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 Mazda Xedos 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.
Half of all 1998 Mazda Xedos vehicles fall between 73,813 and 116,053 miles.
1998 Mazda Xedos — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 14% of 1998 Mazda Xedoss are still active.
Numbers are declining — 15 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (14% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 1998 Mazda Xedos stacks up against a rival.