Vauxhall Corsa (1999)
1999 Vauxhall Corsa
CarHunch analysed 80,118 real MOT records for the 1999 Vauxhall Corsa. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1999 Vauxhall Corsa struggles against the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 66.5% compared to the national 80%—a significant gap that reflects age and wear. A concerning 23.6% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is well above acceptable levels and should weigh heavily in any purchase decision.
At nearly 70,000 miles on average, these Corsas show typical mileage for their age, but they're generating 3.81 failures and 10.2 advisories per vehicle on test, suggesting cumulative deterioration across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before committing to one, budget for remedial work and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and steering components—the areas where dangerous defects cluster in this cohort.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 1.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 1999 Vauxhall Corsa
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.
- ⚠️ 23.6% 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 Corsa
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (94%) | 75,414 | 66.4% | 3.84 |
| Diesel (6%) | 4,696 | 68% | 3.27 |
| LPG (0%) | 6 | 61.2% | 4.67 |
| Other (0%) | 2 | 83.3% | 0.5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1999 Vauxhall Corsa 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 Corsa vehicles fall between 52,099 and 81,005 miles.
1999 Vauxhall Corsa — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 1,544 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (6% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 Vauxhall Corsa
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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54.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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51.6%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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45.4%
Oil leak
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32.2%
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
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30.2%
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
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28.8%
Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
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27%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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26.6%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Vauxhall Corsa?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.