1999 Toyota Previa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 506 MOT tests, the 1999 Toyota Previa recorded a 68.6% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 29.7% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.0%) and emissions & environmental (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, wipers and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 92 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 34.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.4% in 2021 to 30.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 71 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 70 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.7% | 64 |
| 4 | Visibility | 11.5% | 58 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 56 |
| 6 | Brakes | 10.5% | 53 |
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 | 92 |
| 2 | Wipers | 61 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 52 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 29 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 29 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 29 |
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 | 35.2% | 178 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.4% | 154 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.7% | 120 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.1% | 107 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 94 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.0% | 71 |
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 | 30 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 46 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 143 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 127 | 34.6% |
| 150k+ | 156 | 34.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 34.4% |
| 2022 | 109 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 97 | 33.0% |
| 2024 | 81 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 68 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Previa
On a 1999 Previa, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (13.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- 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 Previas pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 506 1999 Toyota Previa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota Previa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (13.8%).
Does the 1999 Previa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.3% in the 30-60k band to 34.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 506 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.