1999 Isuzu Trooper — MOT failures & pass rate
1,592 MOT tests on the 1999 Isuzu Trooper are in this dataset, and 72.2% of them passed. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.7%. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (15.3%) 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 position lamp, joints and rigid brake pipes — position lamp alone was recorded 113 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.5% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.0% in 2021 to 26.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 244 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 233 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.8% | 204 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.3% | 196 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 111 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 113 |
| 2 | Joints | 110 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 110 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 100 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 97 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 95 |
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 | 42.1% | 671 |
| 2 | Brakes | 39.3% | 625 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.3% | 482 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.3% | 355 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.0% | 319 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.4% | 214 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 136 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 415 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 411 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 555 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,350 | 27.9% |
| Petrol | 242 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 459 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 347 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 316 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 254 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 216 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Trooper
On a 1999 Trooper, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.3% 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+.
- 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.
- Brakes (12.8% 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.
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 Isuzu Troopers pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 1,592 1999 Isuzu Trooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Isuzu Trooper?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.6%).
Does the 1999 Trooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 60-90k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,592 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.