1999 Toyota Supra — MOT failures & pass rate
461 MOT tests on the 1999 Toyota Supra are in this dataset, and 83.7% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.0% fail rate), the 1999 Supra comes out 5.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.6% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Supra fails 16.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 14.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 17.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.3% in 2021 to 9.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 49 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.5% | 30 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.6% | 26 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 26 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.6% | 21 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 10 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 20 |
| 5 | Washers | 17 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 16 |
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 | 17.6% | 81 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 16.9% | 78 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.7% | 77 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.8% | 68 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 37 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 29 |
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 | 48 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 105 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 123 | 17.1% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 97 | 14.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 104 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 106 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 93 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 81 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 77 | 9.1% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Supra
On a 1999 Supra, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.5% 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.
- Visibility (5.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Supras pass their MOT?
83.7% of the 461 1999 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota Supra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by brakes (6.5%).
Does the 1999 Supra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 30-60k band to 14.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 461 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.