MOT performance
MOT failure “Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush”: how common it is and which cars get it
“Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush” (major defect, suspension) was recorded as a failure on 0.14% of UK MOT tests in 2023–2024: 89,435 tests, the number 75 most common failure item. It is 17.6 times as common at 10 years old (0.19%) as at 3 (0.01%). It is most common at 12 years old (0.24% of tests).
89,435 tests with this failure, 2023–2024
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Share of MOT tests | 0.14% | 89,435 tests, 2023–2024 |
| Rank among failure items | #75 | by number of tests |
| Most common at | 12 years old | 0.24% of tests at that age |
| Models compared | 282 | models with enough tests |
How it changes with age
By fuel
Petrol: 0.15% of tests; Diesel: 0.14% of tests; Electric: 0.00% of tests; Hybrid: 0.00% of tests. Fuel groups differ in age and mileage, so these raw shares are not like-for-like; the model tables below are.
Models that fail on it most often
Relative to cars of the same age and fuel (1.00 = national rate for this item). Only models with enough tests for the difference to be clear are ranked.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isuzu D-Max | 66,975 | 4.40% | +6020% |
| Peugeot Bipper | 41,750 | 5.44% | +3759% |
| Citroen Nemo | 29,417 | 5.16% | +3384% |
| Fiat 500 | 702,906 | 3.04% | +1587% |
| Chevrolet Matiz | 22,205 | 2.90% | +1512% |
| London Taxis International TX4 | 26,655 | 2.00% | +1462% |
| Fiat Panda | 182,599 | 2.94% | +1436% |
| Abarth 500 | 47,520 | 1.78% | +1381% |
| Ford Ka | 370,138 | 2.27% | +1058% |
| Fiat Doblo | 95,744 | 1.08% | +663% |
Models that fail on it least often
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pulsar | 42,549 | 0.00% | -100% |
| MG MG3 | 39,968 | 0.00% | -100% |
| Land Rover Discovery Sport | 218,712 | 0.00% | -100% |
| Bentley Continental | 29,070 | 0.00% | -100% |
| Audi Q7 | 98,173 | 0.00% | -100% |
| Peugeot 108 | 150,038 | 0.00% | -99% |
| Hyundai ix35 | 104,677 | 0.00% | -99% |
| Ford C-Max | 302,383 | 0.00% | -99% |
| Toyota iQ | 34,119 | 0.00% | -99% |
| Porsche 911 | 100,223 | 0.00% | -99% |
Makes that stand out on this failure
About this defect
The wording is DVSA's, from the MOT inspection manual. A high ratio for a model reflects its MOT record, which depends on maintenance and use as well as design. For one car, its own MOT history shows whether this has come up before.
Other common suspension failures
- 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
Check the car you are looking at
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UK number plate or 17-character VIN
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.