1999 Nissan Almera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Nissan Almera passed 68.0% of its 1,636 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 1999 Almera comes out 4.6pp worse. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (15.0%) and suspension (14.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, joints and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 335 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 42.9% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 245 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.6% | 239 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.0% | 196 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 184 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 99 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 80 |
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 | 335 |
| 2 | Joints | 159 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 102 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 84 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 83 |
| 6 | Wipers | 78 |
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 | 35.2% | 576 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.6% | 485 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.8% | 455 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.1% | 411 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.4% | 285 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 122 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 65 | 26.2% |
| 30-60k | 438 | 27.9% |
| 60-90k | 544 | 32.9% |
| 90-120k | 336 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 139 | 39.6% |
| 150k+ | 63 | 42.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 578 | 32.7% |
| 2022 | 408 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 293 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 200 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 157 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Almera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 15.0% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.0% 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+.
- Suspension (14.6% 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.
- Brakes (12.0% 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.
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 Nissan Almeras pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 1,636 1999 Nissan Almera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Nissan Almera?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by suspension (14.6%).
Does the 1999 Almera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 0-30k band to 42.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,636 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.