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

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 Patrol?

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 Patrol?

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 Patrol vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% 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 Patrol reliable?

Based on MOT data from 609 vehicles, the 1999 Nissan Patrol has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1999 Nissan Patrol?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Nissan Patrol are: Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (53.9% of vehicles), Oil leak (50.6% of vehicles), Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (48.9% 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 Patrol?

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 Patrol (1999)

609 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.7% first-time pass rate

1999 Nissan Patrol

CarHunch analysed 609 real MOT records for the 1999 Nissan Patrol. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1999 Nissan Patrol is a notably weaker performer compared to the UK MOT average, with a 72.7% pass rate against the national 80%—meaning one in four fails its test. More concerning, over a quarter of these vehicles (26.3%) have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history, which is well above the threshold that should trigger caution in any potential buyer.

These Patrols are averaging around 105,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're accumulating an average of 3.38 failures and 17.7 advisories per test—suggesting deferred maintenance and wear are significant issues. If you're considering one, budget for immediate and thorough pre-purchase inspection, particularly around structural integrity and braking systems, since the dangerous defect rate signals systemic reliability concerns rather than isolated problems.

The 1999 Nissan Patrol has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

72.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

26.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.38

Over 11.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

104k

Middle half: 80k–123k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 609 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 609 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 53.9%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint · …

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

Other issues 50.6%

Oil leak

Brake wear 40.6%

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

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

Tyre wear 30.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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.

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 609 Nissan Patrol cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Nissan Patrol

Based on MOT data from 609 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.3% 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 (100%)	607	72.6%	3.39

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,894 Nissan Patrol vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 23.1%

1,820

Blue 18.9%

1,493

Red 16.9%

1,333

Silver 11.6%

919

Black 10.4%

823

White 8.6%

681

Grey 7.2%

571

Gold 1.2%

Bronze 1.2%

Maroon 0.3%

Brown 0.3%

Orange 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Nissan Patrol 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.

103,506

typical

80,469

low mileage

122,746

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Nissan Patrol vehicles fall between 80,469 and 122,746 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 80,469 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.

✓ 80,469–122,746 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Nissan Patrols sit.

⚠ Over 165,707 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 Patrol — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 14% of 1999 Nissan Patrols are still active.

Numbers are declining — 33 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

11.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.38

Avg failures per vehicle

17.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 1999 Nissan Patrol stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on