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Bedford 99 170 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Bedford 99 170 car check

Is the Bedford 99 170 reliable? We analysed 1,585 real MOT tests across 297 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,585 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
66.4%
Typical Mileage
66,281mi
Annual Mileage
1,686mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
40yrs

The Bedford 99 170 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and fog lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bedford 99 170.

Bedford 99 170 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Bedford 99 170. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Bedford 99 170 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Bedford 99 170 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

61.5%
1990
65.5%
1989
66.7%
1988
69.5%
1987
72.6%
1986

Bedford 99 170 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Bedford 99 170 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 203
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 119
fog lamp not working 85
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 69
Brake pipe excessively corroded 64
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 63
brake recording little or no effort 61
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 51
Horn not working 51
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 51

Bedford 99 170 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Bedford 99 170 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
651 mi/yr
Typical
1,686 mi/yr
Average
3,585 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,447 mi/yr

Bedford 99 170 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bedford 99 170 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1990 213 61.5% 30,043 59,148 84,963
1989 487 65.5% 32,576 65,641 80,525
1988 588 66.7% 30,254 69,310 90,520
1987 177 69.5% 58,110 66,645 77,790
1986 113 72.6% 48,564 63,512 70,322

How Long Does a Bedford 99 170 Last?

Based on 297 Bedford 99 170 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
20.3 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
40 years

Bedford 99 170 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Bedford 99 170 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
66,281 mi
75th Percentile
84,963 mi
95th Percentile
97,451 mi
Max Recorded
903,376 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Bedford 99 170

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1986

72.6% MOT pass rate from 113 tests

Year to avoid
1990

61.5% MOT pass rate from 213 tests

The best year to buy a used Bedford 99 170 is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.6% across 113 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Bedford 99 170 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Bedford 99 170 THIS CAR 66.4% 1,585 66,281 mi 40 yrs
Bedford Rascal 67.1% 15,670 60,580 mi 40 yrs
Bedford Cf 66.6% 12,420 60,401 mi 56 yrs
Bedford Midi 66.7% 5,313 69,482 mi 47 yrs
Lexmoto Valiant 70.6% 1,632 5,732 mi 11 yrs

Compared to the Bedford Rascal (67.1% pass rate) and the Bedford Cf (66.6% pass rate), the Bedford 99 170 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Bedford 99 170?

The Bedford 99 170 has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.4% across 1,585 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Bedford 99 170 are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (203 recorded failures), suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (119), and fog lamp not working (85). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Bedford 99 170 owner drives around 1,686 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Bedford 99 170 models stay on UK roads for around 40 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Bedford 99 170 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bedford 99 170 reliable?
Based on 1,585 MOT tests, the Bedford 99 170 has a 66.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Bedford 99 170?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and fog lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Bedford 99 170 do per year?
The typical Bedford 99 170 does around 1,686 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Bedford 99 170 last?
Most Bedford 99 170 models stay on UK roads for around 40 years based on our analysis of 297 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Bedford 99 170?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Bedford 99 170?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Bedford 99 170 is 1986 with a 72.6% pass rate across 113 tests.