Used buying checklist
Dacia Logan reliability, common problems and used buying checks
A used Dacia Logan looks about average for reliability in UK MOT data: 17.4% of 18,827 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering.
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering.
Start with windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.
- 17.4% MOT failure rate
- Median tested mileage 56,661 miles
- 3,269 failed MOT tests analysed
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest area to check
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (9.0 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include of an obligatory external mirror significantly affected by an obstruction, provides insufficient washer liquid, and does not clear the windscreen effectively.
Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:
- of an obligatory external mirror significantly affected by an obstruction
- provides insufficient washer liquid
- does not clear the windscreen effectively
- damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
- inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
- inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
- warning lamp indicates a fault
- warning lamp indicates an ABS fault
- ball joint excessively worn
- ball joint has excessive play
Focus on windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering
The model's recorded failure rate is 17.4%, -1.4 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.
- MOT tests analysed18,827 tests
- Median tested mileage56,661 miles
- Failed MOT tests3,269
Should you buy a used Dacia Logan?
82.6% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 17.4%, -1.4 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.
- Repeat unresolved MOT notes for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering
- windscreen, wipers, and mirrors appearing across more than one MOT
- Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
- No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
- A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "of an obligatory external mirror significantly affected by an obstruction"
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering.
Start with windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (9.0 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Past 100k miles on the Dacia Logan, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors.
The MOT failure rate rises from 9.3% at 0-3 years to 40.0% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%.
Start with windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, suspension and steering, and corrosion and structure. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller.
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
What should I check first?
Start with windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, suspension and steering, and corrosion and structure. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.
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Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (9.0 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.
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Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results
Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (7.0 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.
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Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results
Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (6.5 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.
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Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results
Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.3 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.
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Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results
Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.0 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.
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Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results
Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (1.7 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.
What changes with mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Dacia Logan, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors.
Common MOT problem areas
Common faults: what usually fails on this model?
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (9.0 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Recall-related areas to verify
Official recall areas
Manufacturer recall notices for the Dacia Logan mainly involve 4 areas: seatbelts and safety systems, suspension and steering, tyres and wheels, and emissions, engine, and exhaust. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.
Mileage and age checks
Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Dacia Logan, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, lights and electrical, and tyres and wheels.
| Mileage range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-50k | 7,920 | 6,746 | 11.5%+0.6 percentage points vs all models | 31,519 miles |
| 50-100k | 7,522 | 5,821 | 20.7%+0.0 percentage points vs all models | 69,217 miles |
| 100-150k | 2,288 | 1,628 | 23.4%-2.8 percentage points vs all models | 116,502 miles |
| 150-200k | 670 | 447 | 25.8%-1.5 percentage points vs all models | 169,841 miles |
| 200k+ | 352 | 214 | 26.1%-0.4 percentage points vs all models | 225,486 miles |
Problem areas by mileage
Past 100k miles on the Dacia Logan, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors.
| Mileage range | Car areas most often recorded | Specific MOT defect examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50k |
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| 50-100k |
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| 100-150k |
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| 150-200k |
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| 200k+ |
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Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?
The MOT failure rate rises from 9.3% at 0-3 years to 40.0% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 40.0% for 15+ years cars, based on 5 tests.
| Age range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 years 2023–2026 reg. |
464 | 427 | 9.3%+0.8 percentage points vs all models | 3.0 years |
| 3-6 years 2020–2023 reg. |
6,604 | 5,381 | 13.6%+3.0 percentage points vs all models | 4.9 years |
| 6-10 years 2016–2020 reg. |
11,676 | 8,982 | 19.7%+3.1 percentage points vs all models | 7.9 years |
| 10-15 years 2011–2016 reg. |
78 | 58 | 26.9%+3.4 percentage points vs all models | 10.0 years |
| 15+ years pre-2011 reg. |
5 | 4 | 40.0%+14.1 percentage points vs all models | 15.4 years |
Recall records and data freshness
Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
| 2019-03-26 | INCORRECT POSITIONING OF THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN MOUNTING BRACKET Incorrect positioning of the lower steering column mounting bracket with a risk of loosening. Check and reposition or replace the lower steering column fixing plate as required. |
|---|---|
| 2019-01-04 | DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY DURING AN IMPACT Drivers air bag may not deploy correctly. Replace drivers air bag. |
| 2018-06-19 | RISK OF FUEL LEAK Risk of a diesel fuel leak in the engine bay Fit a protective clip or replace pipe. |
| 2018-03-20 | FRONT WHEEL HUBS MAY CRACK The front wheel hub may suffer cracking. Drivers may notice abnormal noise and in extreme cases the hub may fail. On affected vehicles check manufacturing date of the wheel hubs and replace if required. |
| 2016-12-20 | DRIVERS AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY It has been identified that due to an internal defect within the drivers air-bag if the SRS system detects an impact/collision which requires deployment of the air-bags then the drivers air-bag may not deploy. Therefore there is a risk of increased injury to the driver. Recall all affected vehicles to check and if required replace the driver's air-bag with a new unit. |
| 2016-02-23 | STEERING MAY FAIL On a small number of vehicles the drive rotor at the ball join on the steering rod may break due to excessive stress. On affected vehicles check steering rack type and if necessary replace. |
Related searches
Common ways people look up the Dacia Logan. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.
Related reliability guides
See where this model sits against other Dacia reports by MOT failure rate and common problem area.
Compare high-confidence model reports across all makes.
Use the fleet mileage baseline before checking this model's own mileage table.
Compare this model's age pattern with the wider MOT baseline.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.