1999 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Renault Master passed 63.5% of its 884 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.9 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.1%) and brakes (17.4%) 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, service brake performance and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 175 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 36.3% versus 31.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 169 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 154 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 150 |
| 4 | Suspension | 16.2% | 143 |
| 5 | Visibility | 11.8% | 104 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.9% | 61 |
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 | 175 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 102 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 82 |
| 4 | Washers | 82 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 74 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 68 |
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 | 31.6% | 279 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.4% | 251 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.9% | 247 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.8% | 237 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.3% | 162 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 138 |
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 | 61 | 31.1% |
| 60-90k | 127 | 34.6% |
| 90-120k | 232 | 36.2% |
| 120-150k | 178 | 41.6% |
| 150k+ | 267 | 36.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 216 | 37.5% |
| 2022 | 196 | 37.8% |
| 2023 | 174 | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 152 | 36.2% |
| 2025 | 146 | 37.0% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Master
On a 1999 Master, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (17.0% 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+.
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 Masters pass their MOT?
63.5% of the 884 1999 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 36.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by brakes (17.4%).
Does the 1999 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.1% in the 30-60k band to 36.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 884 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.