1999 Suzuki Carry — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 438 MOT tests, the 1999 Suzuki Carry recorded a 64.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 9.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.2%) and emissions & environmental (15.1%) 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, catalyst emissions and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 103 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 30.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 44.1% once past 120-150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.7% in 2021 to 26.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 71 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.1% | 66 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 63 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 41 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.4% | 28 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 23 |
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 | 103 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 84 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 38 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | 31.7% | 139 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 123 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.0% | 114 |
| 4 | Other defects | 22.4% | 98 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 59 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 53 |
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 | 96 | 30.2% |
| 60-90k | 138 | 33.3% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 39.3% |
| 120-150k | 59 | 44.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 120 | 36.7% |
| 2022 | 99 | 34.3% |
| 2023 | 92 | 37.0% |
| 2024 | 71 | 38.0% |
| 2025 | 56 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Carry
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.2% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (15.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% 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 Suzuki Carrys pass their MOT?
64.8% of the 438 1999 Suzuki Carry MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 35.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Suzuki Carry?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (15.1%).
Does the 1999 Carry get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.2% in the 30-60k band to 44.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 438 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.