Mazda Bongo (1999)

1,286 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71% first-time pass rate

1999 Mazda Bongo

CarHunch analysed 1,286 real MOT records for the 1999 Mazda Bongo. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 9% below UK average
71%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
125,011
typical mileage
99,021–149,661 middle half
38.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
5.29
avg MOT failures per car
over 16.9 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1999 Mazda Bongo

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.
  • ⚠️ 38.6% 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 Mazda Bongo

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (55%) 703 71.5% 4.91
Diesel (43%) 556 70.5% 5.74
LPG (2%) 25 65.4% 6.32
Other (0%) 2 92.9% 0.5

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Mazda Bongo 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.

99,021
low mileage
125,011
typical
149,661
high mileage

Half of all 1999 Mazda Bongo vehicles fall between 99,021 and 149,661 miles.

1999 Mazda Bongo — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 880 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 84% of the peak.

863 880 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

16.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
5.29
Avg failures per vehicle
27.9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 Mazda Bongo

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 91.8%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 29.2%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 27%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 25%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 24.2%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 22.5%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 22.3%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 22%
    Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Mazda Bongo?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Mazda Bongo:

1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006