1999 Toyota Hiace — MOT failures & pass rate
473 MOT tests on the 1999 Toyota Hiace are in this dataset, and 80.3% of them passed. That is 6.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and stop lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.6% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 61 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 39 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 26 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 22 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 22 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 11 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 20 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 5 | Wipers | 18 |
| 6 | Linkage pins and bushes | 16 |
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 | 41.0% | 194 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.7% | 117 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.0% | 90 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 85 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.7% | 65 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.3% | 58 |
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 | 74 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 118 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 94 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 133 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 363 | 20.7% |
| Petrol | 108 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 98 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 96 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 90 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 88 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Hiace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
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 Toyota Hiaces pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 473 1999 Toyota Hiace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota Hiace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by suspension (8.3%).
Does the 1999 Hiace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 30-60k band to 22.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 473 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.