1999 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,242 MOT tests, the 1999 Ford Fiesta recorded a 66.8% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), the 1999 Fiesta comes out 3.9pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 19.4% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,242 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 38.6% versus 27.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.8% in 2021 to 30.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.4% | 2,761 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 2,285 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 1,789 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 1,574 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 924 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 752 |
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 | 2,242 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,175 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,077 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 986 |
| 5 | Joints | 924 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 841 |
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 | 42.6% | 6,068 |
| 2 | Brakes | 39.9% | 5,677 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.7% | 3,796 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.2% | 3,161 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.0% | 1,988 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 1,579 |
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 | 1,157 | 27.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,773 | 30.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,370 | 34.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,248 | 36.7% |
| 120-150k | 550 | 39.5% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 38.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,080 | 33.3% |
| Diesel | 162 | 29.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,647 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 3,492 | 33.8% |
| 2023 | 2,629 | 32.0% |
| 2024 | 1,966 | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 1,508 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Fiesta
On a 1999 Fiesta, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.4% 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 (16.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.6% 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+.
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 Fiestas pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 14,242 1999 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ford Fiesta?
Suspension, recorded in 19.4% of tests, followed by brakes (16.0%).
Does the 1999 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.7% in the 0-30k band to 38.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,242 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.