1999 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,137 MOT tests, the 1999 Toyota Hilux recorded a 73.0% pass rate. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 1999 Hilux comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests against 13.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, chassis condition and service brake performance — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 336 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 0-30k band and 29.8% in the 150k+ band, a 16.5-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.3% in 2021 to 25.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 805 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 550 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.7% | 524 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 496 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 247 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 202 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 336 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 309 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 284 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 259 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 245 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 237 |
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 | 39.4% | 1,629 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.2% | 1,292 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.3% | 1,131 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.8% | 696 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 645 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 550 |
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 | 45 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 89 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 357 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 626 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 954 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,066 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,091 | 27.2% |
| Petrol | 46 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 993 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 874 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 840 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 770 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 660 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Hilux
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.3% 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.
- Suspension (12.7% 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 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 4,137 1999 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by brakes (13.3%).
Does the 1999 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,137 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.