1999 Toyota Picnic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Toyota Picnic passed 71.8% of its 710 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 1999 Picnic comes out 1.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 100 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.4% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 35.4% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 105 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 76 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 75 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 74 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.6% | 54 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.8% | 34 |
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 | 100 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 76 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 45 |
| 4 | Joints | 41 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 31 |
| 6 | Wipers | 30 |
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 | 38.3% | 272 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 37.3% | 265 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.0% | 227 |
| 4 | Other defects | 26.9% | 191 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.6% | 175 |
| 6 | Brakes | 24.1% | 171 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 63 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 157 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 165 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 311 | 35.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 574 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 136 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 233 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 172 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 125 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 96 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 84 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Picnic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (10.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (10.6% 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 Picnics pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 710 1999 Toyota Picnic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota Picnic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (10.7%).
Does the 1999 Picnic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 60-90k band to 35.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 710 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.