1999 Daihatsu Sirion — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Daihatsu Sirion passed 67.7% of its 408 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 1999 Sirion comes out 4.8pp worse. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Body, structure & corrosion dominates the failure mix at 19.1% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, joints and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 62 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Sirion fails 31.2% of the time in the 30-60k band and 30.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 78 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.0% | 57 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 48 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.8% | 44 |
| 5 | Brakes | 9.3% | 38 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 24 |
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 | 62 |
| 2 | Joints | 50 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 44 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 33 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 29 |
| 6 | Wipers | 26 |
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 | 32.4% | 132 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.7% | 109 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.0% | 98 |
| 4 | Brakes | 22.6% | 92 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.8% | 85 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.2% | 66 |
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 | 231 | 31.2% |
| 60-90k | 111 | 37.8% |
| 90-120k | 33 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 131 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 103 | 34.9% |
| 2023 | 73 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 57 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 44 | 31.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Sirion
On a 1999 Sirion, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (19.1% 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+.
- Suspension (14.0% 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 (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Daihatsu Sirions pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 408 1999 Daihatsu Sirion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Daihatsu Sirion?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by suspension (14.0%).
Does the 1999 Sirion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.2% in the 30-60k band to 30.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 408 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.