1999 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,301 MOT tests analysed for the 1999 Toyota Yaris, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 70.6% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (70.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.7% in the 150k+ group versus 13.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.1% | 1,592 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 1,490 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 831 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 749 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.0% | 746 |
| 6 | Brakes | 6.5% | 608 |
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 | 1,291 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 839 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 681 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 601 |
| 5 | Wipers | 559 |
| 6 | Linkage pins and bushes | 487 |
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 | 50.9% | 4,735 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.7% | 2,483 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.3% | 2,169 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.2% | 2,154 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 1,674 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.2% | 1,508 |
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 | 154 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,269 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,711 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,675 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,580 | 34.9% |
| 150k+ | 905 | 34.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,899 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 2,226 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 1,763 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 1,362 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 1,051 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Yaris
Before buying a 1999 Toyota Yaris, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 17.1% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (17.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 9,301 1999 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota Yaris?
Suspension, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.0%).
Does the 1999 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 34.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,301 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.