Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Renault Safrane?

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 Renault Safrane?

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 Renault Safrane?

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 Renault Safrane vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% 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 Renault Safrane reliable?

Based on MOT data from 312 vehicles, the 1999 Renault Safrane has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.6%, 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 Renault Safrane?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Renault Safrane are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (38.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.5% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (31.8% 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 Renault Safrane?

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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Renault Safrane (1999)

312 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.6% first-time pass rate

1999 Renault Safrane

CarHunch analysed 312 real MOT records for the 1999 Renault Safrane. 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

Moderate sample. 312 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

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.

The 1999 Renault Safrane has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.6% 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

68.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

21.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.97

Over 8.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

96k

Middle half: 74k–119k

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 10 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 312 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 312 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 38.3%

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

Brake wear 31.8%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 18.9%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Suspension & steering 18.3%

Offside Steering rack gaiter split · Nearside Steering rack gaiter split

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

Other issues 17.3%

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

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 312 Renault Safrane cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Renault Safrane

Based on MOT data from 312 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.5% 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
Petrol (98%)	307	68.4%	3

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,977 Renault Safrane vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.4%

1,216

Green 19.7%

982

Silver 16.6%

824

Red 14.9%

742

Black 7.6%

380

Grey 6.8%

340

White 4.5%

223

Beige 4%

200

Gold 1.2%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Renault Safrane 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.

95,558

typical

74,390

low mileage

119,418

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Renault Safrane vehicles fall between 74,390 and 119,418 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 74,390 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.

✓ 74,390–119,418 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Renault Safranes sit.

⚠ Over 161,214 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Renault Safrane — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 20% of 1999 Renault Safranes are still active.

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.
* 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

8.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.97

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault Safrane: All Safrane years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 1999 Renault Safrane stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on