Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Nissan D21?

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 Nissan D21?

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 Nissan D21?

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 Nissan D21 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% 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 Nissan D21 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 252 vehicles, the 1998 Nissan D21 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65.2%, 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 Nissan D21?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Nissan D21 are: Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (49.9% of vehicles), Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (44.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (39.2% 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 Nissan D21?

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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Nissan D21 (1998)

252 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Nissan D21

CarHunch analysed 252 real MOT records for the 1998 Nissan D21. 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 Nissan D21 passes its MOT first time in just 65.2% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 25.8% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects—making this a notably unreliable prospect for a 26-year-old pickup. Buyers should view this age and condition as high-risk unless the specific example has full service history and a recent inspection.

These D21s are averaging over 111,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but the real tell is the 3.82 average failures per test and 15.7 advisories per vehicle—this truck accumulates problems faster than most. Before buying, insist on a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with Nissans, and budget for immediate repairs to brakes, suspension, and steering components, which dominate the failure list.

We have limited data for the 1998 Nissan D21 — 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

65.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

25.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.82

Over 10.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

103k

Middle half: 77k–130k

For context

These stats describe 252 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 252 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 49.9%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Rear Leaf spring has a slightly deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

Tyre wear 39.2%

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

Brake wear 31%

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

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

Exhaust & emissions 29.2%

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine

Lighting 24.5%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

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 252 Nissan D21 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Nissan D21

Based on MOT data from 252 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.8% 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.
🔍 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 (99%)	249	65.4%	3.82

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,521 Nissan D21 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 34.4%

1,555

Blue 32.2%

1,456

Red 23.6%

1,066

Black 3.3%

151

Silver 2.4%

109

Green 1.8%

Beige 0.8%

Yellow 0.7%

Grey 0.4%

Orange 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Nissan D21 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.

102,693

typical

77,484

low mileage

129,943

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Nissan D21 vehicles fall between 77,484 and 129,943 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 77,484 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.

✓ 77,484–129,943 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Nissan D21s sit.

⚠ Over 175,423 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Nissan D21 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 1998 Nissan D21s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (22% 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

10.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.82

Avg failures per vehicle

15.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan D21: All D21 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Nissan D21 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on