1999 Vauxhall Tigra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Vauxhall Tigra passed 72.5% of its 287 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.1% of the time, so this is 5.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 48 times.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 44.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 42 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 33 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.1% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.0% | 23 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.3% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 18 |
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 | 48 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 23 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 4 | Washers | 13 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 11 |
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 | 44.3% | 127 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.9% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.1% | 75 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.3% | 67 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.5% | 36 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 26 |
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 | 140 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 91 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 70 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 61 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 40 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 30 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Tigra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (9.1% 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 Tigras pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 287 1999 Vauxhall Tigra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Vauxhall Tigra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.5%).
Does the 1999 Tigra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.4% in the 30-60k band to 29.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 287 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.