1998 · 26 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1998 Tvr Chimaera MOT pass rate and common faults

551 MOT tests in 2024. 87.1% passed first time, compared with 64.9% for all cars the same age.

134Well above average
Passed first time87.1%
Failed or needed repairs12.9%
Typical mileage at test56,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 551 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Stop lamp: all not working1.6%
    17 marked dangerous
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.3%
  3. Washers: not working1.1%
  4. Service brake performance: excessively binding0.9%
  5. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits0.9%
  6. Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.9%
  7. Position lamp: not working0.7%
  8. Emissions not tested: unable to be completed0.7%
  9. Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting0.5%
  10. Headlamp aim: too low0.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics8.5%
  2. Brakes3.4%
  3. Emissions & leaks3.3%
  4. Suspension2.7%
  5. Steering2.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.0%
  7. Body & chassis0.9%
  8. Tyres0.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.3%
  2. Chassis condition: corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced2.0%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened2.0%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened1.8%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: stop lamp: all not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1998 Tvr Chimaera?

In 2024, 87.1% of 1998 Tvr Chimaera cars passed their MOT first time, across 551 tests. The average for all 26-year-old cars was 64.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1998 Tvr Chimaera?

The most common failure reasons were stop lamp: all not working; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; washers: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1998 Tvr Chimaera reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 134, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).