1999 Mazda Bongo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Mazda Bongo passed 71.1% of its 2,170 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 30.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests against 13.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and rear fog lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 247 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.4% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.8% fail against 31.1% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 2,170 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 26.5% 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 | 16.6% | 360 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.6% | 294 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 185 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 179 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.8% | 148 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 124 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 247 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 158 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 140 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 135 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 124 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 108 |
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 | 26.5% | 574 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 527 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.6% | 383 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.9% | 346 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 306 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 303 |
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 | 138 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 405 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 549 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 493 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 568 | 35.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,428 | 27.8% |
| Diesel | 742 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 310 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 322 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 311 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 620 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 607 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Bongo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.6% 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 (8.5% 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 Bongos pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 2,170 1999 Mazda Bongo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mazda Bongo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.6%).
Does the 1999 Bongo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 30-60k band to 35.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,170 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.