Vauxhall Astravan (1999)
1999 Vauxhall Astravan
CarHunch analysed 512 real MOT records for the 1999 Vauxhall Astravan. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1999 Vauxhall Astravan has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 66.9%, which is 13 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that reflects genuine reliability concerns. More worryingly, 27.7% of these vans have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the 20% threshold, suggesting structural or safety issues are commonplace in this cohort.
These vans are running at typical mileage for their age (median 132,000 miles), but they're averaging 3.5 failures and 13.5 advisories per test, indicating widespread wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, budget for immediate repair work on multiple fronts—suspension, brakes, and exhaust are likely candidates—and have a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist diesel mechanic, since nearly all the surviving examples are diesel-powered.
What to check before buying a 1999 Vauxhall Astravan
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.
- ⚠️ 27.7% 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 Vauxhall Astravan
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (95%) | 488 | 66.8% | 3.47 |
| Petrol (5%) | 24 | 68.9% | 3.63 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1999 Vauxhall Astravan 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 Vauxhall Astravan vehicles fall between 110,175 and 155,411 miles.
1999 Vauxhall Astravan — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (9% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 Vauxhall Astravan
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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54.6%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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51%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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50.3%
Oil leak
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45.1%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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44.7%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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44.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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35%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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33.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Vauxhall Astravan?
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