Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Toyota Altezza?

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 Toyota Altezza?

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 Toyota Altezza?

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 Toyota Altezza reliable?

Based on MOT data from 252 vehicles, the 1999 Toyota Altezza has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76%, 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 Toyota Altezza?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Toyota Altezza are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (46.7% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (46.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (42.7% 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 Toyota Altezza?

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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Toyota Altezza (1999)

252 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76% first-time pass rate

1999 Toyota Altezza

CarHunch analysed 252 real MOT records for the 1999 Toyota Altezza. 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 Toyota Altezza has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.2%, which sits notably below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars are reaching their mid-20s with accumulated wear. Nearly one in five (19.4%) have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, which is a legitimate concern for a buyer considering an older example.

At an average mileage of 113,262 miles for a 25-year-old car, these Altezzas are running fairly high, and they're racking up an average of 2.51 failures and 11.5 advisories per test—indicators of rust, worn components, and suspension issues typical of this age. Before buying, have a trusted mechanic inspect the exhaust system, brakes, and suspension closely, as these are the problem areas showing up repeatedly in the MOT data.

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

⚠️ 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

76%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

19.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.51

Over 9.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

105k

Middle half: 77k–137k

For context

These stats describe 252 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 252 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 46.7%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front 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 33%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Exhaust & emissions 30.1%

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

Suspension & steering 16.6%

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

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

Lighting 13.8%

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working · Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working

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

Other issues 13.8%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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 252 Toyota Altezza cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Toyota Altezza

Based on MOT data from 252 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.4% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (92%)	232	75.7%	2.66

Colour Breakdown

Based on 630 Toyota Altezza vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 36.3%

229

White 29.7%

187

Blue 14%

Black 7.5%

Grey 4.4%

Yellow 4%

Red 2.2%

Green 1.1%

Gold 0.8%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Toyota Altezza 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.

105,198

typical

77,435

low mileage

137,317

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Toyota Altezza vehicles fall between 77,435 and 137,317 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 77,435 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.

✓ 77,435–137,317 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Toyota Altezzas sit.

⚠ Over 185,377 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Toyota Altezza — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 46% of 1999 Toyota Altezzas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 47 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (46% 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

9.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.51

Avg failures per vehicle

11.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Altezza: All Altezza years → Which year to buy? →

1998

Or browse all models: Toyota →

Compare with another model

See how the 1999 Toyota Altezza stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?