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Proton Persona (1996)

1,893 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.7% first-time pass rate

1996 Proton Persona

CarHunch analysed 1,893 real MOT records for the 1996 Proton Persona. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 11.3% below UK average
68.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
75,445
typical mileage
58,283–92,067 middle half
13.8%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.88
avg MOT failures per car
over 5.6 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1996 Proton Persona

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.
  • 📄 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 Proton Persona

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
Petrol (89%) 1,681 68.9% 1.86
Diesel (11%) 212 66.6% 2.01

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Proton Persona 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.

58,283
low mileage
75,445
typical
92,067
high mileage

Half of all 1996 Proton Persona vehicles fall between 58,283 and 92,067 miles.

1996 Proton Persona — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 14 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (13% of peak).

111 14 2014 2023

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

MOT History Averages

5.6
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.88
Avg failures per vehicle
4.3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1996 Proton Persona

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 37.4%
    Oil leak
  • 32.2%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 24.5%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 24.4%
    Parking brake lever has no reserve travel
  • 23.3%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 18.2%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 18.2%
    Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
  • 18.2%
    Nearside Steering rack gaiter split

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Proton Persona?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Proton Persona:

1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000