Common MOT failures
Common MOT failures by car model
Across 160 high-confidence model reports and 32,697,873 MOT tests, these are the named problem areas that appear most often. Use this page to spot broad patterns, then open the model report for mileage and recall detail.
| # | Problem area | MOT notes | Models affected | What to check | High-rate examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corrosion and structure | 8,169,046 MOT notes | 160 models | Inspect sills, subframes, suspension mounts, brake pipes, and previous welding or rust repairs. | Ford Fusion, Suzuki Alto, Ford Transit |
| 2 | Suspension and steering | 5,356,067 MOT notes | 160 models | Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and ask whether worn joints or bushes have been replaced. | Peugeot 206, Vauxhall Vivaro, Renault Trafic |
| 3 | Lights and electrical | 3,816,297 MOT notes | 160 models | Test every exterior light, warning lamp, horn, washer, and basic electrical function before buying. | Toyota Corolla, Renault Kangoo, Ford Transit |
| 4 | Emissions, engine, and exhaust | 3,156,217 MOT notes | 160 models | Check cold starts, exhaust smoke, warning lights, service history, and recent emissions repairs. | Peugeot 206, Fiat Punto, MINI MINI |
| 5 | Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors | 2,518,335 MOT notes | 160 models | Check the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, chips, cracks, and whether the driver's view is clear. | Vauxhall Combo, Ford Transit Connect, Citroen Relay |
| 6 | Tyres and wheels | 710,597 MOT notes | 160 models | Look for matching tyres, legal tread, sidewall damage, wheel damage, and uneven wear. | Citroen Dispatch, Audi Q2, Citroen Relay |
| 7 | Brakes | 9,299 MOT notes | 149 models | Check for recent discs, pads, pipes, handbrake work, and any repeated brake imbalance advisories. | Renault Kangoo, Peugeot 206, Ford Fusion |
| 8 | Seatbelts and safety systems | 104 MOT notes | 9 models | Check belts retract cleanly, warning lights go out, and safety-system faults have not repeated. | Toyota Rav4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda Jazz |
Counts are MOT problem notes, not failed vehicles. One MOT can include several notes.