1999 Vauxhall Brava — MOT failures & pass rate
352 MOT tests on the 1999 Vauxhall Brava are in this dataset, and 74.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 26.2%, so the 1999 Brava sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.6% of all tests — 6.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — headlamp alone was recorded 38 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Brava fails 26.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 28.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.4% in 2021 to 19.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 62 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 38 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 34 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.2% | 29 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.4% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 38 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 29 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 25 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 20 |
| 6 | Washers | 20 |
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 | 39.5% | 139 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.1% | 120 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.4% | 86 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.6% | 69 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 55 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.6% | 48 |
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 | 52 | 26.9% |
| 60-90k | 72 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 65 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 77 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 72 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 59 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 52 | 19.2% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Brava
On a 1999 Brava, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% 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.
- Suspension (10.8% 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 Vauxhall Bravas pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 352 1999 Vauxhall Brava MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Vauxhall Brava?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by brakes (11.1%).
Does the 1999 Brava get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.9% in the 30-60k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 352 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.