1999 Mazda Demio — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 560 MOT tests, the 1999 Mazda Demio recorded a 70.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the 1999 Demio comes out 3.6pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.3% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, joints and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 76 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 36.0% versus 20.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.6% in 2021 to 29.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.3% | 91 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 69 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 63 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.6% | 48 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 31 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 26 |
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 | 76 |
| 2 | Joints | 46 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 29 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 26 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 22 |
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 | 38.9% | 218 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.5% | 182 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.4% | 148 |
| 4 | Tyres | 26.1% | 146 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.8% | 77 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 37 |
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 | 126 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 211 | 32.2% |
| 90-120k | 143 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 168 | 31.6% |
| 2022 | 120 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 108 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 90 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 74 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Demio
On a 1999 Demio, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.3% 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 (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.3% 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+.
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 Demios pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 560 1999 Mazda Demio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mazda Demio?
Suspension, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.3%).
Does the 1999 Demio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 30-60k band to 36.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 560 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.