1999 Mazda Eunos — MOT failures & pass rate
285 MOT tests on the 1999 Mazda Eunos are in this dataset, and 78.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), the 1999 Eunos comes out 4.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.2% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 24 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 22.7% versus 17.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.7% in 2021 to 17.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 32 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 22 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.6% | 13 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 15 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 12 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 10 |
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 | 25.3% | 72 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.8% | 62 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 53 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.4% | 44 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 32 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.7% | 22 |
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 | 35 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 14.3% |
| 150k+ | 75 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 65 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 63 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 52 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 39 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Eunos
On a 1999 Eunos, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (7.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (7.7% 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.
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 Eunoss pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 285 1999 Mazda Eunos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mazda Eunos?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (7.7%).
Does the 1999 Eunos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 60-90k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 285 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.