1999 Mitsubishi Challenger — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 631 MOT tests analysed for the 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger, the most common recorded failure areas were body, structure & corrosion, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 71.5% was below the average for cars of a similar age (75.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.5% in the 150k+ group versus 15.3% in the 60-90k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 96 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.5% | 79 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 74 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.4% | 72 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 34 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 52 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 47 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 43 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 42 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 39 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 39 |
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 | 46.1% | 291 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.7% | 244 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 32.3% | 204 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 31.9% | 201 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.0% | 107 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.1% | 89 |
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 | 72 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 133 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 203 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 200 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 445 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 186 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 192 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 153 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 117 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 96 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 73 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Challenger
Before buying a 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Body, structure & corrosion accounted for 15.2% of tests for this year.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.2% 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+.
- Brakes (12.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Mitsubishi Challengers pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 631 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by brakes (12.5%).
Does the 1999 Challenger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 60-90k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 631 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.