1999 Mazda B Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Mazda B Series passed 73.5% of its 600 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 26.1%, so the 1999 B Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.0% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp and component mounting prescribed areas — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 53 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 B Series fails 23.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 24.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 23.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 114 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 73 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 66 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.3% | 56 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.2% | 49 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 53 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 46 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 43 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 40 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 40 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 38 |
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 | 35.5% | 213 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.3% | 206 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 34.0% | 204 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.7% | 112 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.7% | 106 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 84 |
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 | 59 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 78 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 144 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 135 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 179 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 145 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 137 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 119 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 110 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 89 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 B Series
On a 1999 B Series, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.0% 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 Mazda B Seriess pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 600 1999 Mazda B Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mazda B Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 1999 B Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.7% in the 30-60k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 600 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.