Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Metrocab Auto?

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 1997 Metrocab Auto?

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 1997 Metrocab Auto?

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.

Is the 1997 Metrocab Auto reliable?

Based on MOT data from 276 vehicles, the 1997 Metrocab Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.8%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1997 Metrocab Auto?

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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Metrocab Auto (1997)

Q: What are common problems with the 1997 Metrocab Auto?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Metrocab Auto are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (54.5% of vehicles), Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine (37.4% of vehicles), Oil leak (35.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

276 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.8% first-time pass rate

1997 Metrocab Auto

CarHunch analysed 276 real MOT records for the 1997 Metrocab Auto. 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 1997 Metrocab Auto is a serious reliability gamble: just 48.6% pass their MOT first time, nearly 32 percentage points below the UK average, and almost one in five have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. This is a vehicle that demands pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, not a casual buy.

These Metrocabs are running hard at 250,000 miles on average, and with 1.73 failures per test plus nearly six advisories per vehicle, age and mileage are taking their toll across the board. If you're considering one, factor in regular maintenance costs and treat the MOT as a baseline check rather than a pass—inspect the brakes, suspension, and lights yourself before committing.

We have limited data for the 1997 Metrocab Auto — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

68.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

19.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.73

Over 5.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

256k

Middle half: 191k–311k

For context

These stats describe 276 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 276 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 54.5%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 37.4%

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine

Other issues 35.4%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded

Suspension & steering 21.3%

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel · …

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

Tyre wear 16.3%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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.

Wipers & washers 12.9%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Lighting 12.1%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 276 Metrocab Auto cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Metrocab Auto

Based on MOT data from 276 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.6% 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 (98%)	271	68.8%	1.75

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,376 Metrocab Auto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 40.2%

956

Black 31%

737

Red 11.3%

269

Green 7.1%

168

Yellow 3.1%

Maroon 2.6%

White 2.4%

Grey 0.9%

Silver 0.7%

Purple 0.4%

Gold 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Metrocab Auto 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.

255,855

typical

190,708

low mileage

310,711

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Metrocab Auto vehicles fall between 190,708 and 310,711 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 190,708 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.

✓ 190,708–310,711 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Metrocab Autos sit.

⚠ Over 419,459 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Metrocab Auto — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 33% of 1997 Metrocab Autos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 (33% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

5.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.73

Avg failures per vehicle

5.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Metrocab Auto: All Auto years → Which year to buy? →

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999

Or browse all models: Metrocab →

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See how the 1997 Metrocab Auto stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on