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

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 Micra?

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 Micra?

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 Micra vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% 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 Micra reliable?

Based on MOT data from 45,609 vehicles, the 1998 Nissan Micra 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 Nissan Micra?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Nissan Micra are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.3% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (39.8% 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 Micra?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Nissan Micra (1998)

45,609 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.6% first-time pass rate

1998 Nissan Micra

CarHunch analysed 45,609 real MOT records for the 1998 Nissan Micra. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

A 1998 Nissan Micra passes its MOT first time just 66.5% of the time—well below the UK average of 80%—and nearly a quarter of these cars (24.3%) have recorded at least one dangerous defect, which is a genuine safety concern for buyers. You're looking at a car that typically fails on 4 issues per test and racks up over 12 advisories, suggesting age-related wear is catching up fast.

At around 69,000 miles on average, these Micras are now 25 years old and relatively low-mileage, but that also means many have been sat unused or poorly maintained—a pattern that often leads to more failures than steady, serviced examples. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the brake and suspension systems, where most of the dangerous defects are logged.

The 1998 Nissan Micra has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.6% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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)

24.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.13

Over 11.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

67k

Middle half: 51k–84k

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 12.6 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 45,609 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 45,609 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 56.4%

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.

Brake wear 39.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · …

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

Lighting 27.9%

Offside Stop lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

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

Suspension & steering 26.4%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · 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.

Wipers & washers 19.2%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

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 45,609 Nissan Micra cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Nissan Micra

Based on MOT data from 45,609 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.3% 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%)	45,586	66.6%	4.13

Colour Breakdown

Based on 822,413 Nissan Micra vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 23.6%

194,408

Blue 20.1%

165,562

Silver 17.6%

144,497

White 10.3%

84,375

Grey 8.3%

67,892

Black 7.4%

60,469

Green 6.9%

56,922

Gold 1.7%

14,385

Purple 1.5%

12,441

Beige 1.4%

11,534

Orange 0.7%

5,530

Turquoise 0.5%

4,398

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Nissan Micra 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.

66,879

typical

50,994

low mileage

84,072

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Nissan Micra vehicles fall between 50,994 and 84,072 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 50,994 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.

✓ 50,994–84,072 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Nissan Micras sit.

⚠ Over 113,497 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 Micra — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 1998 Nissan Micras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 1,005 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% 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

11.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.13

Avg failures per vehicle

12.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on