Ford Ka (1999)
1999 Ford Ka
CarHunch analysed 41,445 real MOT records for the 1999 Ford Ka. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1999 Ford Ka fails MOT at nearly twice the rate of the UK average—only 62% pass first time versus 80% nationally—and nearly a third of these cars have encountered dangerous defects at some point, which is a serious red flag for structural or safety issues. This isn't a petrol versus diesel story; virtually all Kas are petrol, so the problem is inherent to the model and age.
At 59,000 miles median, these cars are running relatively low mileage for their age, yet they're still averaging 4 failures and 14 advisories per test, pointing to systemic wear rather than exceptional abuse. Before buying a 1999 Ka, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, steering, and brake components—the advisories suggest these are the weak points—and budget for immediate work to bring it through MOT.
What to check before buying a 1999 Ford Ka
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 32% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Ford Ka
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 41,430 | 62% | 4 |
| Diesel (0%) | 10 | 59.5% | 3.9 |
| Other (0%) | 4 | 43.1% | 2 |
| Steam (0%) | 1 | 53.3% | 7 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1999 Ford Ka vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1999 Ford Ka vehicles fall between 47,562 and 69,452 miles.
1999 Ford Ka — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 462 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2020 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2020.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 Ford Ka
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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58.4%
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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58%
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
-
54.1%
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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53.1%
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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52.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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52.7%
Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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52.1%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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50.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ford Ka?
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