1999 Honda HR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Honda HR-V passed 71.8% of its 1,377 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 28.2%, so the 1999 HR-V sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.6%) and lighting & signalling (14.6%) 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, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 217 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 35.2% versus 13.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.0% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.6% | 228 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 201 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 100 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 97 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.7% | 92 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 90 |
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 | 217 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 123 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 111 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 106 |
| 5 | Wipers | 72 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 66 |
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 | 34.0% | 468 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.3% | 348 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.1% | 305 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 236 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 228 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.7% | 202 |
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 | 117 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 295 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 453 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 321 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 162 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 453 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 342 | 28.4% |
| 2023 | 249 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 190 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 143 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 HR-V
On a 1999 HR-V, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.3% 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 Honda HR-Vs pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 1,377 1999 Honda HR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Honda HR-V?
Suspension, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.6%).
Does the 1999 HR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 30-60k band to 35.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,377 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.