1999 Honda Accord — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,760 MOT tests, the 1999 Honda Accord recorded a 71.3% pass rate. That is 1.0 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests against 11.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 456 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.1% in the 0-30k band and 32.5% in the 150k+ band, a 9.4-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.7% in 2021 to 28.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 607 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.6% | 435 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 432 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.7% | 402 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 331 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 235 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 456 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 335 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 281 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 258 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 180 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 172 |
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 | 36.6% | 1,375 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.0% | 1,166 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 945 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 688 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 557 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.6% | 550 |
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 | 65 | 23.1% |
| 30-60k | 438 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 975 | 27.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,113 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 721 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 446 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,137 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 905 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 704 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 567 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 447 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Accord
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (11.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Honda Accords pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 3,760 1999 Honda Accord MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Honda Accord?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.6%).
Does the 1999 Accord get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,760 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.