1999 Daihatsu Hijet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 905 MOT tests, the 1999 Daihatsu Hijet recorded a 67.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the 1999 Hijet comes out 6.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 24.0% of all tests — 6.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 127 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.3% in the 0-30k band and 33.1% in the 90-120k band, a 12.8-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.0% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.0% | 217 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.6% | 159 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 108 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 88 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.2% | 83 |
| 6 | Suspension | 8.2% | 74 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 127 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 115 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 110 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 106 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 101 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 67 |
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 | 31.6% | 286 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.5% | 258 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 193 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.3% | 175 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.8% | 161 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 98 |
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 | 59 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 335 | 28.7% |
| 60-90k | 346 | 37.6% |
| 90-120k | 139 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 226 | 35.0% |
| 2022 | 214 | 35.0% |
| 2023 | 174 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 166 | 32.5% |
| 2025 | 125 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Hijet
On a 1999 Hijet, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 24.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (24.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (11.9% 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 Daihatsu Hijets pass their MOT?
67.4% of the 905 1999 Daihatsu Hijet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Daihatsu Hijet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.0% of tests, followed by brakes (17.6%).
Does the 1999 Hijet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 905 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.