1999 Toyota Mr2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Toyota Mr2 passed 74.9% of its 1,840 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.0%. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (12.4%) and lighting & signalling (12.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and rbt (sp) — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 316 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k — 5.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 20.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 229 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 220 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 214 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.2% | 169 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 96 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 73 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 316 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 123 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 109 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 103 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 94 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 61 |
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 | 25.4% | 467 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.6% | 397 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.6% | 250 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 229 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 169 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 127 |
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 | 33 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 150 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 417 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 480 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 395 | 29.4% |
| 150k+ | 364 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 424 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 399 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 385 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 337 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 295 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Mr2
On a 1999 Mr2, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (12.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.6% 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 Mr2s pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 1,840 1999 Toyota Mr2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota Mr2?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.0%).
Does the 1999 Mr2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,840 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.