1999 Ford Cougar — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Ford Cougar passed 69.7% of its 1,088 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.1% fail rate), the 1999 Cougar comes out 8.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.2%) and suspension (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rbt (sp) and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 114 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.3% in the 0-30k band and 33.3% in the 150k+ band, a 27.1-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 45.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.8% in 2021 to 29.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 176 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.1% | 175 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.9% | 173 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 68 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 59 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 57 |
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 | 114 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 105 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 98 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 84 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 74 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 71 |
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 | 45.1% | 491 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.0% | 392 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.4% | 222 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 180 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 114 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 112 |
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 | 48 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 159 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 353 | 33.7% |
| 90-120k | 330 | 33.0% |
| 120-150k | 127 | 35.4% |
| 150k+ | 69 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 318 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 252 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 202 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 177 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 139 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Cougar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.1% 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.
- Brakes (15.9% 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.
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 Cougars pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 1,088 1999 Ford Cougar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ford Cougar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by suspension (16.1%).
Does the 1999 Cougar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,088 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.