1999 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,224 MOT tests analysed for the 1999 Ford Fiesta, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 66.8% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (70.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 38.2% in the 150k+ group versus 27.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.4% | 2,756 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 2,282 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 1,787 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 1,573 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 923 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 752 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,231 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,174 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,076 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 985 |
| 5 | Joints | 923 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 841 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 42.6% | 6,061 |
| 2 | Brakes | 39.9% | 5,674 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.7% | 3,794 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.2% | 3,152 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.0% | 1,984 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 1,575 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,154 | 27.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,770 | 30.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,366 | 34.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,245 | 36.8% |
| 120-150k | 546 | 39.7% |
| 150k+ | 131 | 38.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,074 | 33.3% |
| Diesel | 150 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,639 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 3,490 | 33.8% |
| 2023 | 2,625 | 32.0% |
| 2024 | 1,963 | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 1,507 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Fiesta
Before buying a 1999 Ford Fiesta, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 19.4% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (19.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (16.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1999 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 14,224 1999 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ford Fiesta?
Suspension, recorded in 19.4% of tests, followed by brakes (16.0%).
Does the 1999 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.7% in the 0-30k band to 38.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,224 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.