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

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 Maxima?

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 Maxima?

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 Nissan Maxima reliable?

Based on MOT data from 428 vehicles, the 1998 Nissan Maxima has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.3%, 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 Nissan Maxima?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Nissan Maxima are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (43.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (40.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (32.5% 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 Nissan Maxima?

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 Maxima (1998)

428 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.3% first-time pass rate

1998 Nissan Maxima

CarHunch analysed 428 real MOT records for the 1998 Nissan Maxima. 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

Moderate sample. 428 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1998 Nissan Maxima falls noticeably short of the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 71.3% versus the national 80%—meaning nearly 3 in 10 fail their MOT. Whilst the dangerous defect rate of 15.7% isn't alarming, it's high enough to flag that structural or safety issues do appear on these ageing cars.

At nearly 100,000 miles on the clock, these Maximas show their age: they're averaging 2.81 failures per test and 9.8 advisories, suggesting multiple systems need attention. If you're considering one, budget for immediate remedial work and plan for regular visits to your mechanic—this isn't a car to buy on tight margins.

The 1998 Nissan Maxima 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.

⚠️ 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

71.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

15.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.81

Over 9.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

96k

Middle half: 75k–116k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 9.8 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 428 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 428 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 43.1%

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

Brake wear 32.5%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Other issues 18.6%

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' · …

Exhaust & emissions 16.7%

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

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 428 Nissan Maxima cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Nissan Maxima

Based on MOT data from 428 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.7% 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 (99%)	424	71.3%	2.8

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,108 Nissan Maxima vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 21.7%

892

Green 20.2%

831

Silver 18.2%

747

Grey 12%

495

Red 11%

450

Black 6.5%

265

White 3.5%

142

Beige 2.3%

Maroon 2%

Brown 1.1%

Gold 0.8%

Bronze 0.6%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Nissan Maxima 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.

95,977

typical

75,039

low mileage

116,381

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Nissan Maxima vehicles fall between 75,039 and 116,381 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 75,039 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.

✓ 75,039–116,381 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Nissan Maximas sit.

⚠ Over 157,114 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 Maxima — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 11% of 1998 Nissan Maximas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (11% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* 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

9.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.81

Avg failures per vehicle

9.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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

Buyer beware — pass it on