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MOT failures by make

MOT failures by make: the defects each make fails on unusually often

In 65,477,892 DVSA MOT tests from 2023–2024, 198 combinations of make and failure item stand out: a make's common failure that it fails on at least 1.5 times, or at most two-thirds of, the rate for cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. The clearest is Vauxhall and “Coil spring: fractured or broken”: 2.09× the comparable rate over 6,000,257 tests.

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Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto

The strongest make-specific MOT failures

Ranked by a 73 Auto score combining how many tests failed on the item and how far the rate is from comparable cars, weighted by the number of the make's cars on the road. “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play” stands out for 10 makes, more than any other item.

Make and failure item combinations ranked by how many owners they affect and how unusual they are
Make and failureTests failingvs similar cars
Vauxhall: Coil spring: fractured or broken325,9772.09×
Ford: Stop lamp: not working332,4411.78×
Nissan: Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn147,4133.11×
Peugeot: Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt123,9683.10×
Nissan: Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play104,1553.10×
Renault: Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play89,7433.99×
Renault: Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn96,7723.21×
Fiat: Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush29,56610.88×
Citroen: Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt94,5173.08×
Vauxhall: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction118,8061.74×
Volkswagen: Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt82,3971.82×
Renault: Coil spring: fractured or broken116,5202.36×
Peugeot: Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps72,2882.34×
Vauxhall: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases92,0861.68×
Nissan: Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn76,2381.98×
Peugeot: Headlamp: not working on dipped beam81,7451.96×
Vauxhall: Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak87,8721.55×
Citroen: Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps56,3152.41×
Nissan: Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn45,3442.18×
Fiat: Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn48,8412.81×

MOT faults by make

Limitations

Makes are those with an MOT make page (at least 20,000 tests and a model with 10,000). An item is listed for a make only if it is one of the make's 15 most common failures, at least 300 tests failed on it, the difference is statistically clear, and it goes beyond the make's overall failure level. MOT results reflect maintenance and use as well as design.

See what a specific car has failed on

Enter a registration to see that car’s MOT history, its advisories and what it costs to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.

UK number plate or 17-character VIN

Where these figures come from

Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.