1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 255 MOT tests, the 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph recorded a 91.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), the 1999 Silver Seraph comes out 17.0pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.7%) and lighting & signalling (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, rbt (sp) and wipers — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 13 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.2% in the 0-30k band and 12.5% in the 60-90k band, a 7.3-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.7% | 12 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 8 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.1% | 8 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 3 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 3 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.2% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 13 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 8 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 4 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 3 |
| 6 | Switch | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.8% | 53 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.9% | 43 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 26 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 10 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.0% | 5 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.2% | 3 |
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 | 98 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 72 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 51 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 51 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 48 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Silver Seraph
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (4.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.1% 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 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraphs pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 255 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph?
Brakes, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.1%).
Does the 1999 Silver Seraph get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 255 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.