1999 Jaguar S-Type — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Jaguar S-Type passed 72.1% of its 3,412 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.3% fail rate), the 1999 S-Type comes out 4.6pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests against 11.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, track rod end and headlamp aim — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 608 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.5% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.9% in 2021 to 24.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 552 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 375 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 353 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.0% | 239 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 198 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 160 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 608 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 308 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 211 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 176 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 137 |
| 6 | Wipers | 136 |
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 | 43.0% | 1,468 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 932 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.5% | 803 |
| 4 | Steering | 12.6% | 431 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 401 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 314 |
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 | 147 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 580 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,228 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 788 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 431 | 35.0% |
| 150k+ | 200 | 34.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,018 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 816 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 641 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 516 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 421 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 S-Type
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.2% 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 (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 Jaguar S-Types pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 3,412 1999 Jaguar S-Type MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Jaguar S-Type?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.0%).
Does the 1999 S-Type get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 34.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,412 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.