Used car guide

1998 Toyota Celica: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1998 Toyota Celicas, from 410 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 410 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

410MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 66%)
4,600typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for exhaust emissions (catalyst)

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1998 Toyota Celicas than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.2× usual
    Toyota Celica
    10% All 1998 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10%, against 4.4% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 7.1% here, against 14.8% of all 1998 cars.

By area

The share of 1998 Toyota Celica MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    38% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    36% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    23% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Tyres
    22% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Toyota Celica?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006882Suspension 39%
20051,208Suspension 44%
20041,264Suspension 45%
20031,118Suspension 47%
2002857Suspension 43%
2001727Suspension 47%
2000342Suspension 47%
1999297Suspension 45%
1997272Suspension 35%
1996252Brakes 37%
1995188Brakes 38%
1994178Suspension 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1998 Toyota Celicas registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score