Car statistics by year

1998 Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa cars first registered in 1998: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 1998, so like is set against like.

A year of the Vauxhall Corsa. “1998” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
613 MOT tests of 1998 Vauxhall Corsa cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 63.3% All 1998 cars 67.1%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 64,100 miles; all 1998 cars 94,000
  • Left at the end of 2025 2,923 16.1% of the 18,104 at the end of 2014
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 7.0% All 1998 cars 6.6%
  • Tests with an advisory 66.1% All 1998 cars 59.6%
  • MOT tests in 2025 613 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 1998 Vauxhall Corsas do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 27 years old, 63.3% of 1998 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests were passed first time, against 67.1% for all cars first registered in 1998. 1998 Vauxhall Corsas did worse than average for their age, by 3.8 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 60.4% of the time (all 1998 cars 65.9%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Vauxhall Corsa vs all cars

Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Vauxhall Corsa bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, Vauxhall Corsa compared with all cars
First registered Vauxhall CorsaAll cars
’98 63.3%67.1%
’99 59.0%65.4%
’00 58.8%63.1%
’01 52.6%61.5%
’02 50.5%59.7%
’03 51.7%58.9%
’04 49.8%57.9%
’05 50.5%57.7%
’06 49.7%56.9%
’07 52.5%57.3%
’08 53.5%57.0%
’09 54.6%58.2%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 1998 Vauxhall Corsa

Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength was the most common single reason a 1998 Vauxhall Corsa failed, on 13.8% of about 200 failed tests. By area of the car, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment failed most often (43.1% of failed tests; all 1998 cars 41.0%). 7.0% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 6.6% for all cars first registered in 1998. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.

Most common reasons for failure

Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed 1998 Vauxhall Corsa tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Suspension 13.8%
Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure 12.4%
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 11.6%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 10.7%
Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 9.3%
Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks 8.9%
Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 8.9%
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks 8.0%
Washers: not working Visibility 7.1%
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks 6.2%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: Vauxhall Corsa vs all 1998 cars

The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.

Share of failed 1998 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 1998 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 43.1%
Suspension 34.2%
Body, chassis, structure 27.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks 22.7%
Visibility 21.3%
Brakes 18.2%
Tyres 10.7%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 6.7%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 1998 Vauxhall Corsa

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 66.1% of 1998 Vauxhall Corsa tests had at least one (all 1998 cars 59.6%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 1998 Vauxhall Corsa tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks 27.1%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 16.2%
Coil spring: corroded Suspension 15.7%
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle 11.4%
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 10.1%
Component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Suspension 9.5%
Wheel bearings: slight play Suspension 8.5%
Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure 7.7%
Integral vehicle structure condition: corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Body, chassis, structure 5.7%
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension 5.7%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 1998 Vauxhall Corsa?

Half of the 1998 Vauxhall Corsas tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 64,100 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 47,700 and a quarter more than 84,900. For all cars first registered in 1998, the middle figure was 94,000 miles, so 1998 Vauxhall Corsas have been driven 31.8% less far than average.

Mileage at the 2025 MOT

Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 1998 Vauxhall Corsa and all 1998 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
1998 Vauxhall Corsa 34,400 47,700 64,100 84,900 111,800 578
All 1998 cars 43,400 65,400 94,000 128,000 164,300 37,727
miles

Half of the 1998 Vauxhall Corsas tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 64,100 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 1998 Vauxhall Corsas are left?

At the end of 2014, 18,104 1998 Vauxhall Corsas were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 2,923 were: 485 licensed and 2,438 declared off the road (SORN). That is 16.1% still on the record, against 28.8% for all cars first registered in 1998.

Share still on the record since 2014

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

1998 Vauxhall Corsas on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2014, compared with all 1998 cars
Year end 1998 Vauxhall CorsaAll 1998 cars
2014 100.0%100.0%
2015 77.8%82.4%
2016 60.1%68.7%
2017 45.2%57.2%
2018 35.5%48.9%
2019 29.3%43.3%
2020 25.4%39.7%
2021 22.0%36.3%
2022 20.2%34.2%
2023 18.7%32.3%
2024 17.2%30.1%
2025 16.1%28.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 1998

1 of the Vauxhall Corsa’s 55 recalls in DVSA’s records covers cars built during 1998. 7 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 1998 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 1998 may have been built in 1997, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

Vauxhall Corsa recalls whose build dates include 1998
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
9 Feb 2001 Seat security concern 1 Jan 1993 to 31 Dec 1999 586,554 (all models)

Every Vauxhall Corsa recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls

Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated

Other years of the Vauxhall Corsa

25 years of the Vauxhall Corsa, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2020 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (84.8% passed first time) and the 2014 cars worst (57.2%).

Vauxhall Corsas by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
1998 2,923 63.3% 67.1%
1999 3,894 59.0% 65.4%
2000 4,933 58.8% 63.1%
2001 7,426 52.6% 61.5%
2002 9,597 50.5% 59.7%
2003 11,819 51.7% 58.9%
2004 12,491 49.8% 57.9%
2005 14,002 50.5% 57.7%
2006 16,996 49.7% 56.9%
2007 29,476 52.5% 57.3%
2008 37,522 53.5% 57.0%
2009 40,375 54.6% 58.2%
2010 45,902 54.8% 59.3%
2011 53,156 56.9% 61.5%
2012 66,928 57.4% 63.6%
2013 67,722 58.6% 66.0%
2014 77,448 70,078 57.2% 69.1%
2015 87,088 83,357 63.6% 72.6%
2016 73,065 71,307 66.6% 75.6%
2017 49,204 49,179 68.4% 79.1%
2018 50,296 49,881 72.9% 81.8%
2019 52,234 51,828 80.2% 84.4%
2020 45,440 44,038 84.8% 86.9%
2021 40,223 38,749 82.3% 88.4%
2022 35,573 33,823 85.8% 89.4%

Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results and mileage Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 613 MOT tests of 1998 Vauxhall Corsa cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 2,923 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Vauxhall Corsa cars first registered in 1998; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 1998.
  • Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
  • Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
  • Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
  • Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
  • DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.