MOT performance
Lights, reflectors and electrical: MOT failure rates
11.2% of 65,477,892 MOT tests on cars and light vans in 2023–2024 failed on lights, reflectors and electrical, 7,302,695 tests in all. Among models with at least 20,000 tests, rates relative to comparable cars range from -79% to +153%.
65,477,892 MOT tests on 34,140,187 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tests failed on lights, reflectors and electrical | 11.2% | 7,302,695 of 65,477,892 tests |
| Models compared | 320 | each with ≥ 20,000 tests |
Most common items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.57% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.96% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.45% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.31% |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.19% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.10% |
| Headlamp aim: too high | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.88% |
Failure items with their own page
- Position lamp: not working · 2.57% of tests
- Stop lamp: not working · 1.96% of tests
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam · 1.45% of tests
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect · 1.31% of tests
- Headlamp aim: too low · 1.19% of tests
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps · 1.10% of tests
- Headlamp aim: too high · 0.88% of tests
- Rear fog lamp: not working · 0.46% of tests
- Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour · 0.42% of tests
- Side repeaters: not working · 0.42% of tests
- Horn: not working · 0.30% of tests
- Headlamp aim not tested: unable to be tested · 0.25% of tests
- Headlamp: not working on main beam · 0.24% of tests
- Individual direction indicators: not working · 0.21% of tests
- Registration plate lamp(s): does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps · 0.17% of tests
- Headlamp: insecure · 0.16% of tests
- Headlamp: lens seriously defective · 0.15% of tests
- Headlamp: has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced · 0.15% of tests
- Headlamp levelling device: inoperative · 0.13% of tests
- Reversing lamps: inoperative · 0.12% of tests
- Stop lamp: all not working · 0.11% of tests
- Headlamp: light intensity severely reduced · 0.10% of tests
- Position lamp: adversely affected by the operation of another lamp · 0.07% of tests
- Side repeaters: incorrect colour · 0.06% of tests
- Switch: inoperative · 0.05% of tests
- Battery(ies): insecure and likely to fall from carrier · 0.05% of tests
- Stop lamp: adversely affected by the operation of another lamp · 0.05% of tests
- Headlamp: light source and lamp not compatible · 0.04% of tests
- Rear fog lamp: does not emit a steady red light · 0.04% of tests
Models that fail on it most often
Relative to cars of the same age, mileage and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dacia Duster | 136,230 | 13.6% | +153% |
| Ford EcoSport | 200,751 | 10.1% | +142% |
| Nissan NV200 | 51,677 | 25.6% | +134% |
| Mercedes-Benz Citan | 40,694 | 20.8% | +130% |
| Toyota Proace | 23,389 | 15.7% | +122% |
| Vauxhall Antara | 43,032 | 26.1% | +116% |
| Ford Transit Courier | 51,128 | 15.3% | +109% |
| Dacia Sandero | 205,898 | 12.1% | +108% |
| Citroen Berlingo | 377,776 | 24.5% | +107% |
| Peugeot Partner | 305,829 | 22.7% | +105% |
Models that fail on it least often
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley Continental | 29,070 | 2.2% | -79% |
| BMW 640 | 20,209 | 2.1% | -77% |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC | 150,770 | 1.1% | -75% |
| Audi A7 | 33,889 | 2.5% | -74% |
| Audi A8 | 23,929 | 3.6% | -73% |
| BMW M3 | 31,544 | 4.6% | -70% |
| BMW M4 | 24,113 | 1.4% | -70% |
| Jaguar F-Type | 28,642 | 1.4% | -70% |
| Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 21,178 | 2.6% | -69% |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 55,571 | 4.1% | -66% |
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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.