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MOT performance

Dacia Duster vs Volkswagen T-Roc: MOT pass rates compared

In 2023–2024, 73.3% of 136,230 Dacia Duster MOT tests and 91.0% of 130,619 Volkswagen T-Roc tests passed first time — 17.7 points in favour of the Volkswagen T-Roc. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the Volkswagen T-Roc fails less often than the Dacia Duster: 0.65× against 1.41× the national rate for comparable cars.

136,230 Dacia Duster and 130,619 Volkswagen T-Roc MOT tests, 2023–2024

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At a glance

Dacia Duster vs Volkswagen T-Roc MOT results
FigureValueBasis
Dacia Duster: first-time pass rate73.3%±0.2 pts (95%), n = 136,230
Volkswagen T-Roc: first-time pass rate91.0%±0.2 pts (95%), n = 130,619
Dacia Duster: failures vs similar cars+41%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Volkswagen T-Roc: failures vs similar cars-35%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Dacia Duster: dangerous defect5.4%n = 136,230
Volkswagen T-Roc: dangerous defect3.2%n = 130,619
Average age at test5.6 vs 3.5 yearsDacia Duster vs Volkswagen T-Roc

Why the raw pass rates can mislead

The Dacia Duster was tested at an older average age (5.6 years against 3.5), and older cars fail more often whatever they are. That is why the table above also shows failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel: it compares the models, not their fleets.

Failure areas side by side

Share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and in brackets how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = national average). The clearest difference is steering, where the Dacia Duster fails 18.0 times as often on an adjusted basis.

Dacia Duster vs Volkswagen T-Roc MOT failures by area
AreaDacia DusterVolkswagen T-Roc
Brakes5.3% (+38%)1.4% (-44%)
Steering2.0% (+147%)0.0% (-86%)
Suspension3.8% (+2%)0.2% (-80%)
Tyres4.9% (-13%)4.0% (-18%)
Road wheels0.1% (-46%)0.1% (-49%)
Lights, reflectors and electrical13.6% (+153%)1.3% (-58%)
Body, chassis and structure2.6% (+116%)0.1% (-75%)
Driver's view of the road5.8% (+69%)1.9% (-40%)
Noise, emissions and leaks1.5% (+13%)0.5% (-30%)
Seat belts and airbags0.8% (+72%)0.6% (+63%)
Registration plates and VIN0.2% (-28%)0.1% (-32%)
Speedometer and driving controls0.0% (+71%)0.0% (+19%)

Pass rate at the same age

Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.

Dacia Duster vs Volkswagen T-Roc MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at testDacia DusterVolkswagen T-Roc
3-4 years79.3% (n = 43,914)91.3% (n = 73,588)
5-6 years74.8% (n = 30,153)89.0% (n = 26,227)

Most common failure item

  • Dacia Duster · headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (3.57% of tests)
  • Volkswagen T-Roc · condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (1.56% of tests)

MOT results reflect how cars are maintained as well as how they are built, so a gap between two models is a difference in test performance, not proof that one is more reliable. For one car, its own MOT history says more than any average.

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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.