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

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 Skyline?

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 Skyline?

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 Skyline reliable?

Based on MOT data from 793 vehicles, the 1998 Nissan Skyline has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.7%, 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 Nissan Skyline?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Nissan Skyline are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (24.9% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (24.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (24.2% 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 Skyline?

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 Skyline (1998)

793 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.7% first-time pass rate

1998 Nissan Skyline

CarHunch analysed 793 real MOT records for the 1998 Nissan Skyline. 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

This 1998 Nissan Skyline passes its first MOT at 81.7%, which is marginally above the UK average of 80% and suggests reasonable reliability for a 26-year-old sports car. The dangerous defect rate of 12.7% is acceptable and not a major concern, though prospective buyers should be aware that one in eight examples has flagged a serious safety issue at some point.

At an average mileage of around 101,000 km, these Skylines have been well-used but not excessively thrashed, which is positive given their age and performance heritage. The high advisory count of 7.9 per vehicle reflects the wear you'd expect from ageing Japanese sports cars—not failures, but things needing attention—so budget for regular maintenance and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection completed by a specialist familiar with the model.

The 1998 Nissan Skyline passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (81.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

81.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

12.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.52

Over 7.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

94k

Middle half: 71k–127k

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 7.9 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 793 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 793 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 24.9%

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

Exhaust & emissions 24.3%

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 14.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Suspension & steering 12.3%

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play

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

Other issues 8.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive

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 793 Nissan Skyline cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Nissan Skyline

Based on MOT data from 793 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.7% 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%)	782	81.8%	1.53

Colour Breakdown

Based on 9,516 Nissan Skyline vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 24.1%

2,290

Silver 19.7%

1,878

Black 16.8%

1,602

Grey 12.8%

1,220

Blue 10.5%

1,000

Red 6.9%

652

Purple 5.6%

530

Yellow 1.2%

118

Green 0.9%

Maroon 0.8%

Orange 0.4%

Gold 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Nissan Skyline 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.

94,119

typical

70,987

low mileage

127,067

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Nissan Skyline vehicles fall between 70,987 and 127,067 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 70,987 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.

✓ 70,987–127,067 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Nissan Skylines sit.

⚠ Over 171,540 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 Skyline — Still on the Road

Most 1998 Nissan Skylines are still being driven.

215 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 77% 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

7.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.52

Avg failures per vehicle

7.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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

Average reliability — agree?