Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Mitsubishi Fto?

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 Mitsubishi Fto?

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 Mitsubishi Fto?

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 Mitsubishi Fto vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 Mitsubishi Fto reliable?

Based on MOT data from 140 vehicles, the 1998 Mitsubishi Fto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.6%, 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 Mitsubishi Fto?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Mitsubishi Fto are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (105.7% of vehicles), Oil leak (65.6% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (63.5% 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 Mitsubishi Fto?

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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Mitsubishi Fto (1998)

140 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.6% first-time pass rate

1998 Mitsubishi Fto

CarHunch analysed 140 real MOT records for the 1998 Mitsubishi Fto. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1998 Mitsubishi FTO is a significantly riskier proposition than the UK average: only 66.6% pass on the first attempt compared to the national 80%, and nearly 30% have recorded dangerous defects at some point—well above acceptable safety margins. This is a car that demands serious caution from any prospective buyer.

These survivors are averaging 96,500 miles, which is reasonable for a 26-year-old sports car, but the real problem lies in the pattern of failures: an average of 4.3 failures per MOT and nearly 19 advisories per vehicle show chronic mechanical wear across multiple systems. Before you even consider one, get a pre-purchase inspection from a Mitsubishi specialist and budget for imminent work on suspension, brakes, and cooling systems—this is not a bargain-buy daily driver.

We have limited data for the 1998 Mitsubishi Fto — 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

66.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

29.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.29

Over 12.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

86k

Middle half: 71k–119k

For context

These stats describe 140 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 140 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 105.7%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive · …

Other issues 65.6%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Brake wear 63.5%

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

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

Tyre wear 55.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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.

Suspension & steering 23.8%

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded

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

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 140 Mitsubishi Fto cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Mitsubishi Fto

Based on MOT data from 140 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.3% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Mitsubishi Fto 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.

86,340

typical

70,874

low mileage

119,038

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Mitsubishi Fto vehicles fall between 70,874 and 119,038 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 70,874 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.

✓ 70,874–119,038 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Mitsubishi Ftos sit.

⚠ Over 160,701 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Mitsubishi Fto — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 28% of 1998 Mitsubishi Ftos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (28% 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

12.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.29

Avg failures per vehicle

18.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi Fto: All Fto years → Which year to buy? →

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Buyer beware — pass it on