1999 Ford Explorer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 519 MOT tests, the 1999 Ford Explorer recorded a 72.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.1%) and lighting & signalling (13.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, prescribed areas and ball joint — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 39 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 32.6% in the 30-60k band and 19.0% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.7% in 2021 to 22.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.1% | 73 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 71 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.9% | 67 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 54 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 31 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.2% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 39 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 35 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 29 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 26 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 25 |
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 | 38.5% | 200 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.3% | 178 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.5% | 122 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 80 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.9% | 72 |
| 6 | Tyres | 12.9% | 67 |
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 | 43 | 32.6% |
| 60-90k | 123 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 186 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 101 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 58 | 19.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 116 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 105 | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 74 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 67 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Explorer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.1% 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 (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% 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 Explorers pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 519 1999 Ford Explorer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ford Explorer?
Suspension, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.7%).
Does the 1999 Explorer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.6% in the 30-60k band to 19.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 519 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.