Nissan Patrol (1998)
1998 Nissan Patrol
CarHunch analysed 727 real MOT records for the 1998 Nissan Patrol. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1998 Nissan Patrol fails MOT at a notably higher rate than the UK average, with just 71.4% passing first time compared to 80% across all vehicles—a real concern for reliability. More worryingly, nearly one in four of these Patrols (24.8%) has recorded a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting safety issues are common enough to factor seriously into your decision.
These vehicles are averaging 111,659 miles, which is typical for their age, but owners are dealing with an average of 3.13 failures per test and a substantial 15 advisories, indicating ongoing wear and maintenance demands. If you're considering one, budget for regular and thorough pre-purchase inspections, particularly around structural integrity and brake systems where dangerous defects tend to cluster.
What to check before buying a 1998 Nissan Patrol
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 24.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Nissan Patrol
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (98%) | 715 | 71.4% | 3.14 |
| Petrol (2%) | 11 | 74.9% | 2.27 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 61.5% | 5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 Nissan Patrol vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1998 Nissan Patrol vehicles fall between 87,784 and 128,323 miles.
1998 Nissan Patrol — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 48 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Nissan Patrol
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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53.9%
Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play
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50.6%
Oil leak
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48.9%
Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play
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40.6%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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35.4%
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint
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32.3%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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32%
Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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32%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Nissan Patrol?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.