1999 Hyundai Atoz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 963 MOT tests, the 1999 Hyundai Atoz recorded a 67.5% pass rate. That is 6.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (14.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 75 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 37.1% versus 26.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 152 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 137 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.1% | 136 |
| 4 | Brakes | 13.6% | 131 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 62 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 61 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 75 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 72 |
| 3 | Joints | 71 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 63 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 54 |
| 6 | Door condition | 52 |
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 | 38.4% | 370 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.3% | 369 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.6% | 246 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.5% | 197 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 189 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.0% | 135 |
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 | 52 | 26.9% |
| 30-60k | 400 | 29.5% |
| 60-90k | 352 | 34.7% |
| 90-120k | 115 | 37.4% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 37.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 318 | 34.0% |
| 2022 | 234 | 32.5% |
| 2023 | 188 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 120 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 103 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Atoz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.2% 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+.
- Suspension (14.1% 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.
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 Atozs pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 963 1999 Hyundai Atoz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Hyundai Atoz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.2%).
Does the 1999 Atoz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.9% in the 0-30k band to 37.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 963 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.