Renault Safrane (1999)
1999 Renault Safrane
CarHunch analysed 312 real MOT records for the 1999 Renault Safrane. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1999 Renault Safrane struggles with reliability, posting a first-time pass rate of just 68.6% against the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests these cars need closer scrutiny before purchase. More concerning, just over one in five (21.5%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a serious buyer warning flag.
At 100,000 miles average, these vehicles are well-used but not excessively so for their age, yet they're still racking up nearly 3 failures and 10 advisories per test on average, indicating persistent wear and systemic issues rather than isolated problems. Before committing to one, budget for a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension, brakes, and cooling systems—the sheer volume of advisories suggests multiple minor faults that can quickly become expensive if left unchecked.
What to check before buying a 1999 Renault Safrane
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.
- ⚠️ 21.5% 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 Renault Safrane
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (98%) | 307 | 68.4% | 3 |
| LPG (1%) | 3 | 79.8% | 1.67 |
| Diesel (1%) | 2 | 75% | 0.5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1999 Renault Safrane 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 Renault Safrane vehicles fall between 74,390 and 119,418 miles.
1999 Renault Safrane — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (20% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 Renault Safrane
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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38.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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37.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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31.8%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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30.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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25.7%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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25.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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21.4%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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18.9%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Renault Safrane?
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