MOT performance

Suspension: MOT failure rates

8.9% of 65,477,892 MOT tests on cars and light vans in 2023–2024 failed on suspension, 5,816,370 tests in all. Among models with at least 20,000 tests, rates relative to comparable cars range from -89% to +187%.

65,477,892 MOT tests on 34,140,187 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto

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At a glance

Suspension MOT failures at a glance
Figure	Value	Basis
Tests failed on suspension	8.9%	5,816,370 of 65,477,892 tests
Models compared	320	each with ≥ 20,000 tests

Most common items

Most common suspension MOT failure items
Item	Area	Share of tests
Coil spring: fractured or broken	Suspension	2.32%
Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	1.43%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	1.20%

Failure items with their own page

Coil spring: fractured or broken · 2.32% of tests
Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn · 1.43% of tests
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn · 1.20% of tests
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak · 0.84% of tests
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt · 0.69% of tests
Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn · 0.68% of tests
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength · 0.52% of tests
Ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt · 0.46% of tests
Wheel bearings: rough when rotated · 0.29% of tests
Wheel bearings: has excessive play · 0.16% of tests
Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush · 0.14% of tests
Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened · 0.10% of tests
Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn · 0.10% of tests
Shock absorbers: has negligible damping effect · 0.10% of tests
Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened · 0.10% of tests
Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn · 0.09% of tests
Macpherson strut: top bush or bearing has excessive wear or free play · 0.08% of tests
Ball joint: ball joint likely to become detached · 0.08% of tests
Pins and bushes: pin or bush likely to become detached · 0.06% of tests
Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength · 0.05% of tests
Linkage: fractured · 0.05% of tests

Models that fail on it most often

Relative to cars of the same age, mileage and fuel.

Models with the highest suspension MOT failure ratio
Model	Tests	Failed on it	vs similar cars
Fiat Tipo	25,118	8.9%	+187%
Renault Zoe	37,670	9.1%	+166%
Nissan NV200	51,677	20.0%	+109%
Vauxhall Mokka	453,553	10.4%	+107%
Nissan Pulsar	42,549	10.4%	+95%
Renault Clio	663,662	19.3%	+91%
Vauxhall Adam	118,376	10.9%	+88%
Fiat 500	702,906	13.9%	+84%
Renault Trafic	218,161	19.5%	+83%
Suzuki Splash	35,745	19.2%	+83%

Models that fail on it least often

Models with the lowest suspension MOT failure ratio
Model	Tests	Failed on it	vs similar cars
Bentley Continental	29,070	0.9%	-89%
Jaguar I-Pace	30,624	0.2%	-87%
Lexus UX	20,230	0.1%	-84%
Porsche Macan	56,741	0.5%	-83%
Kia Niro	115,269	0.2%	-82%
Porsche 911	100,223	1.6%	-82%
Jaguar F-Type	28,642	0.6%	-82%
Jaguar F-Pace	101,644	0.5%	-80%
Suzuki Celerio	55,281	0.7%	-80%
Volkswagen T-Roc	130,619	0.2%	-80%

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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.