1999 Renault Laguna — MOT failures & pass rate
566 MOT tests on the 1999 Renault Laguna are in this dataset, and 70.9% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 1999 Laguna comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 18.2% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 64 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.6% in 2021 to 30.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.2% | 103 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 84 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 58 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.7% | 49 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 42 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 38 |
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 | 64 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 61 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 46 |
| 4 | Wipers | 30 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 6 | Joints | 21 |
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 | 37.3% | 211 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.8% | 180 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 139 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.0% | 130 |
| 5 | Other defects | 22.6% | 128 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 92 |
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 | 75 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 166 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 128 | 35.2% |
| 120-150k | 104 | 34.6% |
| 150k+ | 66 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 503 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 63 | 30.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 202 | 34.6% |
| 2022 | 136 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 97 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 75 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 56 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Laguna
On a 1999 Laguna, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.3% 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+.
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 Lagunas pass their MOT?
70.9% of the 566 1999 Renault Laguna MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Renault Laguna?
Suspension, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.8%).
Does the 1999 Laguna get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.7% in the 30-60k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 566 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.