1999 Tvr Cerbera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 440 MOT tests analysed for the 1999 Tvr Cerbera, the most common recorded failure areas were emissions & environmental, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 87.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (75.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 26 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.8% | 21 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 20 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 19 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.9% | 4 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Washers | 21 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 15 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 6 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 30 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 23 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.9% | 17 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 16 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 11 |
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 | 55 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 270 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 112 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 99 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 88 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 91 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 74 | 6.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Cerbera
Before buying a 1999 Tvr Cerbera, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Emissions & environmental accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.
- Emissions & environmental (5.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (4.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Tvr Cerberas pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 440 1999 Tvr Cerbera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Tvr Cerbera?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (4.8%).
Does the 1999 Cerbera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 440 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.