1999 Ford Puma — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,273 MOT tests, the 1999 Ford Puma recorded a 69.2% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 28.2%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (16.9%) and suspension (15.9%) 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, prescribed areas and flexible brake hoses — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 324 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.7% in the 0-30k band and 34.2% in the 150k+ band, a 8.6-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.3% in 2021 to 26.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.9% | 385 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.9% | 361 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 254 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 241 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.3% | 142 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 118 |
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 | 324 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 207 |
| 3 | Flexible brake hoses | 149 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 148 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 130 |
| 6 | Joints | 128 |
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 | 36.5% | 829 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.3% | 803 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 25.7% | 585 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.0% | 477 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 433 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 273 |
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 | 191 | 25.7% |
| 30-60k | 430 | 27.7% |
| 60-90k | 676 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 615 | 32.7% |
| 120-150k | 278 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 76 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 639 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 528 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 435 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 376 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 295 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Puma
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 16.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (16.9% 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.
- Suspension (15.9% 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 (11.2% 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 Ford Pumas pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 2,273 1999 Ford Puma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ford Puma?
Brakes, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by suspension (15.9%).
Does the 1999 Puma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.7% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,273 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.