1999 Toyota Starlet — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Toyota Starlet passed 77.5% of its 3,720 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.1%) and brakes (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, joints and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 272 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.3% versus 10.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 411 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 312 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 301 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 271 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 236 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 189 |
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 | 272 |
| 2 | Joints | 185 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 172 |
| 4 | Wheel bearings | 155 |
| 5 | Wipers | 142 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 132 |
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 | 34.0% | 1,263 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.8% | 958 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 763 |
| 4 | Brakes | 19.7% | 732 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.0% | 522 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 506 |
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 | 89 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 758 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,255 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 912 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 457 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 244 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 945 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 794 | 21.2% |
| 2023 | 746 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 661 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 574 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Starlet
On a 1999 Starlet, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Starlets pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 3,720 1999 Toyota Starlet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota Starlet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by brakes (8.4%).
Does the 1999 Starlet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,720 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.