1999 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 377 MOT tests, the 1999 Vauxhall Movano recorded a 65.8% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 29.6% of the time, so this is 4.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (19.6%) and lighting & signalling (18.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and washers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 101 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.4% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 36.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 37.2% in 2021 to 30.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.6% | 74 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 69 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.5% | 66 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 55 |
| 5 | Visibility | 13.8% | 52 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.3% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 101 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 53 |
| 3 | Washers | 38 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 34 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 33 |
| 6 | Wipers | 27 |
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 | 39.0% | 147 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.4% | 126 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.0% | 113 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.0% | 98 |
| 5 | Tyres | 21.5% | 81 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 71 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 63 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 87 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 98 | 36.7% |
| 150k+ | 99 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 113 | 37.2% |
| 2022 | 90 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 69 | 37.7% |
| 2024 | 53 | 32.1% |
| 2025 | 52 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Movano
On a 1999 Movano, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (19.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.5% 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 Movanos pass their MOT?
65.8% of the 377 1999 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Vauxhall Movano?
Brakes, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.3%).
Does the 1999 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 60-90k band to 36.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 377 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.