Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Nissan Navara?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1999 Nissan Navara?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1999 Nissan Navara?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 1999 Nissan Navara vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1999 Nissan Navara reliable?

Based on MOT data from 116 vehicles, the 1999 Nissan Navara has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.4%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1999 Nissan Navara?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Nissan Navara are: Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (57.1% of vehicles), Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (48.2% of vehicles), Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (47% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1999 Nissan Navara?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Nissan Navara (1999)

116 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.4% first-time pass rate

1999 Nissan Navara

CarHunch analysed 116 real MOT records for the 1999 Nissan Navara. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1999 Nissan Navara is a struggling proposition on the MOT bench: only 67.4% pass first time, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 3 in 10 have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is a serious red flag for safety-critical wear. The diesel engines (which account for virtually all these trucks) don't perform differently from the overall cohort, so fuel type isn't the issue here.

At just over 106,000 miles on average, these Navaras aren't high-milers for their age, yet they're averaging 4 failures and 15 advisories per test—a sign that age and neglect matter more than distance. If you're considering one, budget for significant remedial work: plan a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with 25-year-old trucks and expect to address suspension, brakes, and structural corrosion before it becomes dangerous.

We have limited data for the 1999 Nissan Navara — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

67.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

29.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.06

Over 11.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

104k

Middle half: 81k–121k

For context

These stats describe 116 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 116 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 57.1%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 47%

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 43.8%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 36.6%

Oil leak

Lighting 28.8%

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Exhaust & emissions 28.1%

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 116 Nissan Navara cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Nissan Navara

Based on MOT data from 116 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (97%)	113	67.2%	4.11

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Nissan Navara vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

104,095

typical

81,402

low mileage

120,635

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Nissan Navara vehicles fall between 81,402 and 120,635 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 81,402 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 81,402–120,635 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Nissan Navaras sit.

⚠ Over 162,857 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Nissan Navara — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 26% of 1999 Nissan Navaras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2019 (26% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2019.

MOT History Averages

11.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.06

Avg failures per vehicle

15.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Navara: All Navara years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on