Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Renault Extra?

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 Renault Extra?

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 Renault Extra?

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 Renault Extra reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,026 vehicles, the 1998 Renault Extra 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 Renault Extra?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Renault Extra are: Oil leak (42.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (30.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (26.8% 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 Renault Extra?

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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Renault Extra (1998)

1,026 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.6% first-time pass rate

1998 Renault Extra

CarHunch analysed 1,026 real MOT records for the 1998 Renault Extra. 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

The 1998 Renault Extra has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.6%, which is noticeably below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these vans are prone to developing faults as they age. With 16.3% of vehicles having suffered a dangerous defect at some point, this is a meaningful buyer concern that warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

At nearly 100,000 miles on average, these examples have racked up serious mileage, yet they're averaging 2.01 failures and 4.6 advisories per test—a sign of accumulated wear rather than catastrophic design flaws. Before buying one, get a full mechanical inspection focused on brakes, suspension, and engine condition, as the numbers suggest these vans need active maintenance to stay roadworthy.

The 1998 Renault Extra 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.

⚠️ 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

66.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

16.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.01

Over 5.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

95k

Middle half: 75k–119k

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 4.6 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 1,026 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 1,026 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 42.1%

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

Tyre wear 30.7%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 18%

Brakes imbalanced across an axle · Brake load sensing valve linkage seized

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

Lighting 14.3%

Offside Headlamp aim too low · Nearside Headlamp aim too low

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

Suspension & steering 14.2%

Offside Front coil spring incomplete · Nearside Front coil spring incomplete

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

Wipers & washers 11.9%

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · 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 1,026 Renault Extra cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Renault Extra

Based on MOT data from 1,026 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.3% 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
Diesel (99%)	1,011	66.7%	1.99

Colour Breakdown

Based on 35,376 Renault Extra vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 64.1%

22,661

Red 16%

5,657

Blue 14.4%

5,107

Beige 2.2%

768

Silver 0.6%

220

Green 0.6%

220

Yellow 0.6%

210

Grey 0.6%

210

Black 0.4%

134

Orange 0.3%

109

Multi-colour 0.1%

Brown 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Renault Extra 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.

95,450

typical

74,665

low mileage

118,593

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Renault Extra vehicles fall between 74,665 and 118,593 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 74,665 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.

✓ 74,665–118,593 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Renault Extras sit.

⚠ Over 160,100 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Renault Extra — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 1998 Renault Extras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2018 (23% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2018.

MOT History Averages

5.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.01

Avg failures per vehicle

4.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault Extra: All Extra years → Which year to buy? →

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999

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Buyer beware — pass it on