Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Suzuki An400?

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 Suzuki An400?

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 Suzuki An400?

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.

Is the 1999 Suzuki An400 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 450 vehicles, the 1999 Suzuki An400 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.4%, 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 Suzuki An400?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Suzuki An400 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.4% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (36.5% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (29.3% 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 Suzuki An400?

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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Suzuki An400 (1999)

450 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.4% first-time pass rate

1999 Suzuki An400

CarHunch analysed 450 real MOT records for the 1999 Suzuki An400. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 450 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1999 Suzuki AN400 is more reliable than average, with an 87.4% first-time pass rate against the UK benchmark of 80%, and a dangerous defect rate of 16.4% that's moderate rather than alarming. At just over 21,000 miles on average, these machines have been used sparingly, which explains the solid baseline performance.

What matters practically is that advisories outnumber failures by more than three to one—averaging 4.6 advisories versus 1.34 failures per vehicle—suggesting these scooters need routine maintenance rather than major repairs. Before buying one, ask for full service records and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake and exhaust systems, where advisories typically cluster on this model.

The 1999 Suzuki An400 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (87.4%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

87.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

16.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.34

Over 10.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

21k

Middle half: 14k–27k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.4% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.6 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 450 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 450 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 57.4%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm

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

Brake wear 29.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 21%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Lighting 15.6%

Exhaust slightly deteriorated

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

Suspension & steering 10.8%

Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect · Front wheel bearings are slightly rough · Front wheel bearings are excessively rough

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

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 450 Suzuki An400 cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Suzuki An400

Based on MOT data from 450 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.4% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,759 Suzuki An400 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 30.2%

833

Silver 26.5%

732

Grey 16.7%

462

Black 15%

415

Maroon 8.9%

245

White 1%

Red 0.8%

Brown 0.7%

Yellow 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Suzuki An400 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.

20,556

typical

13,856

low mileage

27,170

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Suzuki An400 vehicles fall between 13,856 and 27,170 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 13,856 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.

✓ 13,856–27,170 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Suzuki An400s sit.

⚠ Over 36,679 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Suzuki An400 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 29% of 1999 Suzuki An400s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 68 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (29% 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

10.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.34

Avg failures per vehicle

4.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki An400: All An400 years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010

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Compare with another model

See how the 1999 Suzuki An400 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?