1999 TVR Chimaera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 TVR Chimaera passed 88.7% of its 2,380 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.0% of the time, so this is 14.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.6%) and visibility (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 93 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Chimaera fails 11.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.7% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 11.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.3% in 2021 to 10.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 133 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 76 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 70 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 65 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.6% | 39 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 35 |
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 | 93 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 79 |
| 3 | Washers | 54 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 38 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 35 |
| 6 | Wipers | 35 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 271 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 188 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 156 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 138 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.7% | 111 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.2% | 100 |
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 | 257 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,248 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 752 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 103 | 10.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 498 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 479 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 474 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 469 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 460 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Chimaera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.2% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Chimaeras pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 2,380 1999 TVR Chimaera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 TVR Chimaera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 1999 Chimaera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,380 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.