1999 Nissan Vanette — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 336 MOT tests, the 1999 Nissan Vanette recorded a 64.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 1999 Vanette comes out 9.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 22.3% of all tests — 7.1 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, chassis condition and service brake imbalance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 146 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Vanette fails 34.4% of the time in the 30-60k band and 34.7% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 53.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.9% in 2021 to 34.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.3% | 75 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 51 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.2% | 51 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 46 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 26 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 18 |
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 | 146 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 54 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 31 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 30 |
| 5 | Wipers | 24 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 23 |
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 | 53.0% | 178 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.0% | 111 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 66 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.4% | 62 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.8% | 53 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.7% | 46 |
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 | 32 | 34.4% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 34.7% |
| 90-120k | 125 | 40.0% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 34.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 106 | 35.9% |
| 2022 | 85 | 40.0% |
| 2023 | 65 | 36.9% |
| 2024 | 45 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 35 | 34.3% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Vanette
On a 1999 Vanette, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (22.3% 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.
- 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 (15.2% 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 Vanettes pass their MOT?
64.0% of the 336 1999 Nissan Vanette MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 36.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Nissan Vanette?
Suspension, recorded in 22.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (15.2%).
Does the 1999 Vanette get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.4% in the 30-60k band to 34.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 336 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.