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

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 Scenic?

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 Scenic?

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 Scenic reliable?

Based on MOT data from 396 vehicles, the 1998 Renault Scenic has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.2%, 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 Scenic?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Renault Scenic are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (64.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (40.6% 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 Scenic?

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 Scenic (1998)

396 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Renault Scenic

CarHunch analysed 396 real MOT records for the 1998 Renault Scenic. 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 MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 396 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1998 Renault Scenic has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.2%, which is noticeably below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars tend to arrive at the test with unresolved issues. With 16.2% of vehicles having recorded a dangerous defect at some point, buyers should factor in the cost of potential safety-critical repairs before purchase.

At nearly 95,000 miles on average, these Scenics are racking up genuine mileage for their age, and the 2.13 average failures per vehicle reflects real wear—suspension, steering, and brake components are likely problem areas. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically targets those high-failure areas, and budget for at least one or two significant repairs in the first year of ownership.

The 1998 Renault Scenic has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.2% 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

68.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

16.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.13

Over 6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

84k

Middle half: 72k–100k

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 4.5 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 396 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 396 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 64.8%

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.

Other issues 36.4%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak

Brake wear 28.6%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 25.9%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Wipers & washers 21.3%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Lighting 20.9%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

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

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 396 Renault Scenic cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Renault Scenic

Based on MOT data from 396 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.2% 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 (73%)	288	67.4%	2.21
Diesel (27%)	108	70.4%	1.92

Colour Breakdown

Based on 171,324 Renault Scenic vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 23.4%

40,034

Blue 23.3%

39,954

Red 13.2%

22,658

Grey 10.7%

18,300

Black 9.5%

16,279

Green 6.1%

10,524

Beige 6%

10,339

Gold 4%

6,907

Bronze 1.6%

2,685

White 1.1%

1,852

Yellow 0.7%

1,283

Maroon 0.3%

509

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Renault Scenic 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.

84,399

typical

71,681

low mileage

99,511

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Renault Scenic vehicles fall between 71,681 and 99,511 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 71,681 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.

✓ 71,681–99,511 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Renault Scenics sit.

⚠ Over 134,339 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.13

Avg failures per vehicle

4.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Renault →

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Buyer beware — pass it on