1998 Honda Civic MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 60.5% of Honda Civics first used in 1998 passed their MOT first time, against 65.6% for all cars first used in 1998. Across 3,212 Civic first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, body, chassis and structure and brakes.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Honda Civics first used in 1998 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 1998 Honda Civic MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Civics first used in 1998 against all cars first used in 1998 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Civic figure was 5.1 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 1998 Civic | All cars first used 1998 | Civic first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57.6% | 60.7% | 1,839 |
| 2022 | 60.3% | 62.4% | 1,535 |
| 2023 | 59.3% | 64.0% | 1,264 |
| 2024 | 58.3% | 64.9% | 1,052 |
| 2025 | 60.5% | 65.6% | 896 |
Common 1998 Honda Civic MOT failures
Share of the 1,308 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 13.9% | 182 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 13.5% | 176 |
| Position lamp: not working | 12.1% | 158 |
| Stop lamp: not working | 11.1% | 145 |
| Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 9.3% | 122 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 1998 Honda Civic before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.
- Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
Common 1998 Honda Civic MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 1998 Civics, as a share of all 3,212 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 15.7% | 503 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 14.0% | 450 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 12.0% | 386 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 9.8% | 316 |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread | 9.2% | 297 |
Questions about the 1998 Honda Civic MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 1998 Honda Civic?
In 2025, 60.5% of Civics first used in 1998 passed their MOT first time, against 65.6% for all cars first used in 1998. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 1998 Civic most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 43.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), body, chassis and structure (31.6%) and brakes (29.0%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (13.9%).
How often does a 1998 Honda Civic fail its MOT?
In 2025, 39.5% of first tests on Civics first used in 1998 did not pass first time: 31.9% failed, and a further 7.6% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,308 of 3,212 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 1998 Honda Civic MOT advisories?
“Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (on 15.7% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (14.0%), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (12.0%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.8%) and “Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread” (9.2%).
Is a 1998 Honda Civic reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 57.6% in 2021 to 60.5% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 1998
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
1998 Volkswagen Transporter MOT statistics · 1998 Land Rover Defender MOT statistics · 1998 Mazda MX-5 MOT statistics · 1998 BMW Z3 MOT statistics · 1998 BMW 3 Series MOT statistics
Checking a specific 1998 Civic?
The numbers above cover every Civic first used in 1998 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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