Used car guide

1999 Honda Accord: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 Honda Accords, from 376 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 376 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

376MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
3,700typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1999 Honda Accords than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Headlights2.7× usual
    Honda Accord
    16.2% All 1999 cars
    5.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.8% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.3× usual
    Honda Accord
    10.4% All 1999 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.1%, against 4.4% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Brake pads2.2× usual
    Honda Accord
    9.8% All 1999 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.9% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

By area

The share of 1999 Honda Accord MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    40% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    38% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    20% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Rust and bodywork
    16% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2015168Tyres 27%
2014413Tyres 31%
2013483Tyres 31%
20121,097Suspension 32%
20111,199Suspension 32%
20101,174Suspension 38%
20092,756Suspension 41%
20082,552Suspension 44%
20072,612Suspension 50%
20062,317Suspension 52%
20052,390Suspension 54%
20042,078Suspension 54%
20031,343Suspension 51%
2002466Suspension 44%
2001440Suspension 50%
2000594Suspension 45%
1998153Brakes 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1999 Honda Accords registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score