MOT Failure Rates by Car Make and Model: Full UK Data
Every year, millions of UK cars go through the MOT test. We analysed the DVSA's bulk data to rank every popular car by how often they fail and what goes wrong.
Cars With the Most Failure Modes
These models have the highest number of distinct failure points — more things that can go wrong:
| Rank | Model | Failure Modes | Critical | Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vauxhall Astra Mk5 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | BMW 3 Series E90 | 9 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Renault Megane Mk3 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Audi A4 B8 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | Citroen DS3 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Honda Civic Mk8 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Renault CLIO Mk4 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | SEAT Ibiza Mk4 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | Suzuki Swift Mk2 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Vauxhall Astra J | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Vauxhall Corsa D | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Volkswagen GOLF Mk5 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 13 | Volkswagen GOLF Mk6 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 14 | Volkswagen Passat B7 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| 15 | Audi A1 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Cars With the Fewest Failure Modes
These models have the simplest, most reliable designs with the fewest things to go wrong:
| Rank | Model | Failure Modes | Critical | Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kia NIRO | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota C-HR | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Toyota Corolla E210 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Audi TT Mk3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | BMW 2 Series F22 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | BMW X1 F48 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Ford Ecosport | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | Hyundai I20 Mk2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Mini MINI F56 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | Skoda Fabia Mk3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | Toyota Auris Mk2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Toyota RAV4 Mk4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Toyota Yaris Mk3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Volkswagen T-ROC | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | Volkswagen UP | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Most Common MOT Failures
Across all vehicles in our database, the most common MOT failure categories are:
- Suspension — ball joints, coil springs, and shock absorbers. These wear with mileage and are the most frequent advisory items.
- Brakes — pads, discs, and calipers. Brake components are consumables but failure rates vary significantly by model.
- Lighting — bulbs, lenses, and alignment. Often cheap fixes but frequent.
- Steering — track rod ends and steering rack boots. More common on cars with wider tyres.
- Exhaust — catalytic converters, DPFs, and exhaust flexi-pipes. Diesels are particularly prone.
What MOT Data Doesn't Show
The MOT test doesn't cover everything. Major mechanical components like:
- Timing chains and belts
- Turbochargers
- Dual mass flywheels
- Automatic gearbox internals
These aren't tested during an MOT but are often the most expensive things to fix. Our simulation tool includes both MOT-tested and non-MOT components for a complete picture.
See also: Most Reliable Cars UK 2026 | Cars to Avoid Over 100k Miles | Browse all vehicles