1999 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Renault Kangoo passed 67.4% of its 479 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (16.9%) 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 service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 63 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 30.9% in the 30-60k band and 41.7% in the 150k+ band, a 10.7-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 34.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 36.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.8% | 85 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 81 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 63 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.5% | 55 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.8% | 47 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.5% | 36 |
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 | 63 |
| 2 | Joints | 41 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 34 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 34 |
| 5 | Wipers | 27 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 26 |
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 | 31.1% | 149 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 30.3% | 145 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.8% | 143 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.8% | 119 |
| 5 | Tyres | 23.6% | 113 |
| 6 | Other defects | 22.3% | 107 |
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 | 97 | 30.9% |
| 60-90k | 141 | 31.2% |
| 90-120k | 118 | 34.8% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 41.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 271 | 33.2% |
| Petrol | 208 | 31.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 34.4% |
| 2022 | 103 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 82 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 74 | 35.1% |
| 2025 | 69 | 36.2% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Kangoo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.8% 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 (16.9% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% 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 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
67.4% of the 479 1999 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Renault Kangoo?
Suspension, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (16.9%).
Does the 1999 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.9% in the 30-60k band to 41.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 479 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.