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

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 Supra?

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 Supra?

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 Toyota Supra reliable?

Based on MOT data from 207 vehicles, the 1998 Toyota Supra has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.2%, 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 Supra?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Toyota Supra are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.2% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (49.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (30.4% 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 Supra?

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 Supra (1998)

207 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Toyota Supra

CarHunch analysed 207 real MOT records for the 1998 Toyota Supra. 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 Toyota Supra has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.9%, slightly below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars are aging into a period where minor issues are becoming common. With only 12.1% ever registering a dangerous defect, serious safety concerns are relatively rare for the model.

These Supras are averaging 91,993 miles, which is reasonable for a 26-year-old car, and the typical vehicle racks up 1.84 failures and 7.6 advisories per test. The high advisory count reflects cosmetic and wear-related issues rather than fundamental unreliability—so plan for incremental maintenance rather than major surprises, and have any prospective purchase inspected by a Supra specialist before committing.

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

⚠️ 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

83.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

12.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.84

Over 8.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

84k

Middle half: 58k–114k

For context

These stats describe 207 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 207 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 53.2%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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 22.4%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust noisy

Brake wear 19.4%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front 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.

Other issues 17.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak

Suspension & steering 16.3%

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play

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

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 207 Toyota Supra cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Toyota Supra

Based on MOT data from 207 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.1% 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 (98%)	202	83.3%	1.86

Colour Breakdown

Based on 13,152 Toyota Supra vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 22.6%

2,969

Black 20.3%

2,669

White 20%

2,624

Silver 19.4%

2,557

Blue 9.1%

1,194

Grey 5.3%

701

Green 0.8%

101

Orange 0.7%

Yellow 0.6%

Purple 0.5%

Beige 0.4%

Bronze 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Toyota Supra 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.

84,366

typical

57,576

low mileage

113,744

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Toyota Supra vehicles fall between 57,576 and 113,744 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,576 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.

✓ 57,576–113,744 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Toyota Supras sit.

⚠ Over 153,554 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 Supra — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 58% of 1998 Toyota Supras are still active.

46 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 58% 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

8.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.84

Avg failures per vehicle

7.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Toyota Supra stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?