1999 Nissan Skyline — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Nissan Skyline passed 90.0% of its 663 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.9% of the time, so this is 16.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.5%) and emissions & environmental (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.9% once past 150k — 3.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 11.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 43 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 27 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.6% | 24 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.0% | 13 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.0% | 13 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 12 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 15 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 14 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 13 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 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 | Suspension | 11.0% | 73 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 54 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.1% | 54 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.9% | 39 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 37 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.5% | 30 |
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 | 58 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 139 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 226 | 6.6% |
| 90-120k | 144 | 14.6% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 8.9% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 17.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 116 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 125 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 117 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 152 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 153 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Skyline
On a 1999 Skyline, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (3.6% 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.
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 Skylines pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 663 1999 Nissan Skyline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Nissan Skyline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.1%).
Does the 1999 Skyline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 663 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.