1999 Hyundai Accent — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Hyundai Accent passed 69.9% of its 518 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.7%) and lighting & signalling (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, prescribed areas and component mounting prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 56 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 27.4% in the 30-60k band and 37.9% in the 90-120k band, a 10.5-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.7% | 71 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 68 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 67 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.6% | 65 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 39 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.6% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 56 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 47 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 39 |
| 4 | Joints | 35 |
| 5 | Wipers | 32 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 29 |
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 | 42.1% | 218 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.7% | 164 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.4% | 121 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.7% | 107 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 94 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.5% | 75 |
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 | 208 | 27.4% |
| 60-90k | 193 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 87 | 37.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 127 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 102 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 75 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 57 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Accent
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (13.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.9% 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 Hyundai Accents pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 518 1999 Hyundai Accent MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Hyundai Accent?
Brakes, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.1%).
Does the 1999 Accent get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.4% in the 30-60k band to 37.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 518 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.