Proton Persona 1.8 Penang Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Proton Persona 1.8 Penang car check
Is the Proton Persona 1.8 Penang reliable? We analysed 515 real MOT tests across 101 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Proton Persona 1.8 Penang? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Proton Persona 1.8 Penang is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and parking brake lever has no reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Proton Persona 1.8 Penang.
Proton Persona 1.8 Penang Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Proton Persona 1.8 Penang. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Proton Persona 1.8 Penang MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Proton Persona 1.8 Penang to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Proton Persona 1.8 Penang Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Proton Persona 1.8 Penang fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Proton Persona 1.8 Penang Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Proton Persona 1.8 Penang owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Proton Persona 1.8 Penang MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Proton Persona 1.8 Penang year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 94 | 59.6% | 48,506 | 57,068 | 69,593 |
| 1998 | 101 | 61.4% | 55,972 | 65,291 | 82,540 |
| 1997 | 299 | 65.2% | 60,618 | 76,959 | 94,360 |
How Long Does a Proton Persona 1.8 Penang Last?
Based on 101 Proton Persona 1.8 Penang vehicles on UK roads.
Proton Persona 1.8 Penang Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Proton Persona 1.8 Penang MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Proton Persona 1.8 Penang
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
65.2% MOT pass rate from 299 tests
59.6% MOT pass rate from 94 tests
The best year to buy a used Proton Persona 1.8 Penang is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 65.2% across 299 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Proton Persona 1.8 Penang Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Persona 1.8 Penang THIS CAR | 63.7% | 515 | 69,492 mi | 29 yrs |
| Proton Persona | 66% | 104,196 | 68,588 mi | 32 yrs |
| Proton GEN-2 | 70.5% | 59,272 | 46,580 mi | 22 yrs |
| Proton Wira | 70.1% | 57,151 | 47,970 mi | 26 yrs |
| Renault Trafic SL28 Sport + Blue DCI | 84.7% | 963 | 44,098 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Proton Persona (66.0% pass rate) and the Proton GEN-2 (70.5% pass rate), the Proton Persona 1.8 Penang trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Proton Persona 1.8 Penang you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Proton Persona 1.8 PenangShould you buy a used Proton Persona 1.8 Penang?
The Proton Persona 1.8 Penang has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.7% across 515 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Proton Persona 1.8 Penang are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (84 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (65), and parking brake lever has no reserve travel (43). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Proton Persona 1.8 Penang owner drives around 5,343 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Proton Persona 1.8 Penang models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.