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

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 Lancer?

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 Lancer?

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 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,038 vehicles, the 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (34.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (34.4% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (32.7% 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 Lancer?

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 Lancer (1998)

1,038 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.7% first-time pass rate

1998 Mitsubishi Lancer

CarHunch analysed 1,038 real MOT records for the 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer. 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 Mitsubishi Lancer passes its MOT on the first attempt 82.7% of the time, slightly above the UK average of 80%, suggesting decent baseline reliability for a car of this age. Only 8.3% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is reassuringly low and not a buyer concern.

These Lancers are running at a median of 91,605 miles—reasonable for a 26-year-old car—and they accumulate an average of 1.52 failures per test, indicating they need some attention but nothing catastrophic. The 6.4 advisories per vehicle suggest wear items like brakes, suspension, and exhaust components need regular monitoring, so get a full pre-purchase inspection done and budget for modest maintenance before committing.

The 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (82.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

82.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

8.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.52

Over 7.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

92k

Middle half: 68k–117k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,038 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,038 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 34.9%

Nearside Front 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.

Exhaust & emissions 32.7%

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

Brake wear 21.4%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Other issues 17.6%

Oil leak

Lighting 9.5%

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 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,038 Mitsubishi Lancer cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer

Based on MOT data from 1,038 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.3% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	1,034	82.8%	1.52

Colour Breakdown

Based on 33,002 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 27.6%

9,103

Black 16.1%

5,311

Blue 15.2%

5,009

Grey 13.5%

4,460

White 12.8%

4,230

Red 11.6%

3,834

Yellow 1.4%

450

Green 1%

320

Purple 0.3%

105

Brown 0.3%

100

Orange 0.2%

Gold 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer 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.

91,605

typical

67,933

low mileage

117,105

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles fall between 67,933 and 117,105 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 67,933 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.

✓ 67,933–117,105 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Mitsubishi Lancers sit.

⚠ Over 158,091 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 Lancer — Still on the Road

Most 1998 Mitsubishi Lancers are still being driven.

222 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 72% of the peak remain.

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

7.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.52

Avg failures per vehicle

6.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Average reliability — agree?