Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Toyota Lucida?

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 Toyota Lucida?

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 Toyota Lucida?

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.

How many 1998 Toyota Lucida vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1998 Toyota Lucida reliable?

Based on MOT data from 191 vehicles, the 1998 Toyota Lucida has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.1%, 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 Toyota Lucida?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Toyota Lucida are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.8% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (51.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50.8% 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 Toyota Lucida?

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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Toyota Lucida (1998)

191 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.1% first-time pass rate

1998 Toyota Lucida

CarHunch analysed 191 real MOT records for the 1998 Toyota Lucida. 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 Compare Models

The 1998 Toyota Lucida is notably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 70.1% against the national benchmark of 80%, and nearly three in ten examples have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for a buyer. These are older vehicles that have typically covered substantial mileage (median 124,143 miles), which explains some wear, but the average failure count of 4.6 per test suggests systemic issues beyond normal age-related deterioration.

Most owners will encounter multiple advisory items (averaging 18.2 per test), pointing to widespread minor defects and wear across braking, suspension, and lighting systems rather than one catastrophic problem. Before purchasing, have a pre-buy inspection by a Toyota specialist focus on the cooling system and engine bay—these models are prone to corrosion and gasket failures that drive up long-term repair costs.

We have limited data for the 1998 Toyota Lucida — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

70.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

29.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.6

Over 14.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

124k

Middle half: 98k–154k

For context

These stats describe 191 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 191 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 52.8%

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

Brake wear 51.8%

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.

Other issues 40.1%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 29.3%

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

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

Lighting 29%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working · Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Rear fog lamp not working · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 26.1%

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine

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 191 Toyota Lucida cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Toyota Lucida

Based on MOT data from 191 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.3% 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 (88%)	168	70.1%	4.62

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Toyota Lucida 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.

124,143

typical

97,531

low mileage

153,999

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Toyota Lucida vehicles fall between 97,531 and 153,999 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 97,531 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.

✓ 97,531–153,999 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Toyota Lucidas sit.

⚠ Over 207,898 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Toyota Lucida — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 9% of 1998 Toyota Lucidas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (9% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
* 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

14.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.6

Avg failures per vehicle

18.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Lucida: All Lucida years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on