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

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 Yaris?

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 Yaris?

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 Toyota Yaris vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

21% 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 Toyota Yaris reliable?

Based on MOT data from 16,806 vehicles, the 1999 Toyota Yaris has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74%, 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 Yaris?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Toyota Yaris are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (75.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (45.3% 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 Toyota Yaris?

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 Yaris (1999)

16,806 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74% first-time pass rate

1999 Toyota Yaris

CarHunch analysed 16,806 real MOT records for the 1999 Toyota Yaris. 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 Yaris falls short of the UK average, with a 74% first-time pass rate versus the national 80%, suggesting these cars are more likely to need repairs before MOT compliance. More concerningly, one in five vehicles (21.1%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making pre-purchase inspection non-negotiable.

At nearly 80,000 miles median mileage for a 1999 model, these Yaris examples are relatively well-used, yet they're averaging over four failures per test—pointing to accumulated wear rather than fundamental design flaws. The high advisory count (21.1 per vehicle) reflects typical ageing issues on 25-year-old cars; budget for routine maintenance items like suspension and brake components before buying, and always get a full history check.

The 1999 Toyota Yaris has a below-average first-time pass rate (74% 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

74%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

21.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.09

Over 14.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

79k

Middle half: 62k–97k

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 21.1 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 16,806 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 16,806 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 75.1%

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.

Suspension & steering 45.3%

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · …

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

Brake wear 34.7%

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

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 16,806 Toyota Yaris cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Toyota Yaris

Based on MOT data from 16,806 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.1% 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 (100%)	16,786	74%	4.09

Colour Breakdown

Based on 625,609 Toyota Yaris vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 26.3%

164,789

Red 20%

125,121

Blue 17.2%

107,296

Black 10.2%

63,916

Grey 10%

62,531

White 8.9%

55,382

Green 3.5%

21,882

Turquoise 1.2%

7,303

Bronze 1%

6,441

Gold 1%

5,961

Beige 0.7%

4,196

Orange 0.1%

791

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Toyota Yaris 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.

79,119

typical

62,124

low mileage

96,594

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Toyota Yaris vehicles fall between 62,124 and 96,594 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 62,124 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.

✓ 62,124–96,594 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Toyota Yariss sit.

⚠ Over 130,401 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 Yaris — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 1999 Toyota Yariss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 804 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% 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

14.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.09

Avg failures per vehicle

21.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Toyota →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on