1999 Daewoo Lanos — MOT failures & pass rate
353 MOT tests on the 1999 Daewoo Lanos are in this dataset, and 72.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.4% fail rate), the 1999 Lanos comes out 1.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.0%) and brakes (13.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.1% once past 90-120k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 53 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 46 |
| 3 | Visibility | 10.2% | 36 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.8% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 20 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.5% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 33 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 26 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 6 | Washers | 21 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.8% | 137 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.4% | 86 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.1% | 85 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.6% | 69 |
| 5 | Steering | 15.3% | 54 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.3% | 54 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 152 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 107 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 35.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 122 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 93 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 69 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 34 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 35 | 31.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Lanos
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.0% 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.
- Visibility (10.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Daewoo Lanoss pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 353 1999 Daewoo Lanos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Daewoo Lanos?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by brakes (13.0%).
Does the 1999 Lanos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 30-60k band to 35.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 353 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.