Most common reasons for MOT failures

Department for Tranport statistics

Transport Statistics Great Britain

Road vehicle testing scheme (MOT)

1. MOT computerised figures are available from 2005/06 but computerisation was only phased in at the vehicle testing stations during that year.
This results in the shortfall in volumes for 2005/06 in comparison to later years. Full records are available from 2006/07, and up to 2004/05 a 2% Sample Survey was used. Figures prior to 2006/07 are either incomplete or estimated and should be treated with caution.

2. Pass after Rectification at the Station (PRS). This indicates that a vehicle initially failed its test. It was then repaired within one hour of the test, re-tested and passed.

3. Initial Failure Rate = (PRS + Failures) / Total Tests

4. Final Failure Rate = Failures / Total Tests

All vehicles:
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
Tested	23,768,900	23,793,000	22,160,000	24,022,000	25,864,200	26,379,900	27,070,600	27,609,100	28,278,300	28,516,200	28,473,900
PRS²					1,941,600	2,362,800	2,620,400	2,622,300	2,651,600	2,717,800	2,721,000
Failed	7,330,400	6,934,200	6,332,400	7,883,800	7,214,700	7,665,000	8,038,100	8,444,100	8,460,400	8,575,700	8,398,800
Initial Failure Rate³	30.8%	29.1%	28.6%	32.8%	35.4%	38.0%	39.4%	40.1%	39.3%	39.6%	39.1%
Final Failure Rate⁴					27.9%	29.1%	29.7%	30.6%	29.9%	30.1%	29.5%

Breakdown of statistics for each category

Cars and other passenger vehicles (up to 12 seats)
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
Tested	22,781,000	22,509,000	20,695,000	22,665,000	24,416,900	24,912,500	25,537,700	26,047,500	26,637,500	26,827,400	26,872,400
PRS²					1,865,000	2,267,600	2,502,500	2,495,000	2,515,700	2,573,300	2,580,900
Failed	7,084,900	6,622,100	5,951,900	7,516,400	6,885,900	7,318,400	7,676,000	8,070,300	8,075,900	8,184,500	8,031,200
Initial Failure Rate³	31.1%	29.4%	28.8%	33.2%	35.8%	38.5%	39.9%	40.6%	39.8%	40.1%	39.5%
Final Failure Rate⁴					28.2%	29.4%	30.1%	31.0%	30.3%	30.5%	29.9%

1. MOT computerised figures are available from 2005/06 but computerisation was only phased in at the vehicle testing stations during that year.
This results in the shortfall in volumes for 2005/06 in comparison to later years. Full records are available from 2006/07, and up to 2004/05 a 2% Sample Survey was used. Figures prior to 2006/07 are either incomplete or estimated and should be treated with caution.

2. Pass after Rectification at the Station (PRS). This indicates that a vehicle initially failed its test. It was then repaired within one hour of the test, re-tested and passed.

3. Initial Failure Rate = (PRS + Failures) / Total Tests

4. Final Failure Rate = Failures / Total Tests

5. The testing of towbars only became part of the MOT test on 27th April 2009

Failure Percentage Rates	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
Body and structure	1.8%	1.8%	1.7%	1.4%	1.4%	1.4%
Brakes	12.9%	12.8%	12.9%	10.7%	10.4%	10.2%
Drivers view of the road	8.0%	8.4%	8.5%	7.7%	7.5%	6.9%
Driving controls	-	-	-	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Fuel and exhaust	7.2%	6.9%	6.7%	5.5%	5.2%	4.8%
Lighting and signalling	19.8%	20.7%	21.0%	18.6%	18.6%	18.7%
Reasons specific to motor tricycles and quadricycles	-	-	-	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Registration plates and VIN	1.4%	1.5%	1.7%	1.2%	1.0%	0.9%
Road wheels	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%
Seat belts	1.9%	1.9%	2.0%	1.7%	1.5%	1.4%
Steering	2.9%	2.9%	3.1%	3.2%	3.5%	3.4%
Suspension	12.4%	12.7%	13.4%	11.9%	12.2%	12.5%
Towbars⁵	-	-	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.0%
Tyres	9.1%	9.2%	9.0%	8.0%	7.8%	7.7%

Private passenger vehicles (more than 12 seats)
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
Tested	27,000	44,000	30,000	46,400	49,400	48,700	49,600	49,500	49,200	48,300	46,800
PRS²					2,200	2.600	3.100	3.300	3.500	3.400	3.300
Failed	5,300	10,800	5,010	12,700	12,500	13,200	14,200	13,900	13,500	13,300	12,900
Initial Failure Rate³	19.5%	24.6%	17.0%	27.5%	29.7%	32.4%	34.9%	34.7%	34.5%	34.5%	34.7%
Final Failure Rate⁴					25.4%	27.0%	28.7%	28.1%	27.4%	27.5%	27.6%

1. MOT computerised figures are available from 2005/06 but computerisation was only phased in at the vehicle testing stations during that year.
This results in the shortfall in volumes for 2005/06 in comparison to later years. Full records are available from 2006/07, and up to 2004/05 a 2% Sample Survey was used. Figures prior to 2006/07 are either incomplete or estimated and should be treated with caution.

2. Pass after Rectification at the Station (PRS). This indicates that a vehicle initially failed its test. It was then repaired within one hour of the test, re-tested and passed.

3. Initial Failure Rate = (PRS + Failures) / Total Tests

4. Final Failure Rate = Failures / Total Tests

5. The testing of towbars only became part of the MOT test on 27th April 2009

Failure Percentage Rates	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
Body and structure	5.4%	5.5%	5.3%	4.6%	4.6%	5.0%
Brakes	13.0%	13.5%	13.6%	12.1%	12.2%	12.7%
Drivers view of the road	6.0%	6.4%	6.5%	6.5%	6.2%	5.6%
Driving controls	1.0%	2.3%	1.5%	1.1%	1.0%	1.0%
Fuel and exhaust	4.7%	4.6%	4.3%	3.6%	3.7%	3.4%
Lighting and signalling	16.0%	17.5%	17.6%	16.7%	16.2%	17.0%
Reg plates and vin	0.5%	1.1%	1.1%	0.8%	0.6%	0.6%
Road wheels	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Seat belts	8.1%	8.3%	8.1%	7.1%	6.5%	6.4%
Steering	3.3%	3.6%	3.8%	3.6%	4.1%	4.2%
Suspension	7.2%	7.4%	7.4%	6.5%	6.5%	6.9%
Towbars⁵	-	-	0.2%	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%
Tyres	3.6%	3.9%	3.9%	3.7%	3.7%	3.8%

Goods vehicles between 3,000 and 3,500 kg gross weight
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
Tested	376,000	495,000	634,000	437,400	495,300	520,700	541,300	563,800	602,100	608,100	587,800
PRS²					26,000	34,800	44,000	47,900	53,100	55,600	56,500
Failed	132,000	167,300	209,000	190,500	200,300	214,700	223,200	233,800	244,800	247,500	235,700
Initial Failure Rate³	35.1%	33.8%	33.0%	43.6%	45.7%	47.9%	49.3%	50.0%	49.5%	49.8%	49.7%
Final Failure Rate⁴					40.4%	41.2%	41.2%	41.5%	40.7%	40.7%	40.1%

1. MOT computerised figures are available from 2005/06 but computerisation was only phased in at the vehicle testing stations during that year.
This results in the shortfall in volumes for 2005/06 in comparison to later years. Full records are available from 2006/07, and up to 2004/05 a 2% Sample Survey was used. Figures prior to 2006/07 are either incomplete or estimated and should be treated with caution.

2. Pass after Rectification at the Station (PRS). This indicates that a vehicle initially failed its test. It was then repaired within one hour of the test, re-tested and passed.

3. Initial Failure Rate = (PRS + Failures) / Total Tests

4. Final Failure Rate = Failures / Total Tests

5. The testing of towbars only became part of the MOT test on 27th April 2009

Failure Percentage Rates	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
Body and structure	6.2%	6.1%	5.8%	4.8%	4.4%	4.6%
Brakes	25.0%	24.8%	25.1%	22.2%	21.5%	21.8%
Drivers view of the road	13.1%	13.3%	13.1%	12.1%	11.3%	10.4%
Fuel and exhaust	8.4%	7.8%	7.2%	5.8%	5.3%	4.8%
Lighting and signalling	30.6%	31.9%	32.3%	29.5%	28.8%	29.8%
Reg plates and vin	2.4%	2.5%	2.6%	1.9%	1.6%	1.4%
Road wheels	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%
Seat belts	4.6%	4.7%	4.5%	3.6%	3.1%	2.9%
Steering	6.4%	6.1%	6.4%	7.0%	7.5%	7.3%
Suspension	19.4%	18.7%	17.8%	15.4%	15.0%	15.4%
Towbars⁵	-	-	0.5%	0.4%	0.3%	0.3%
Tyres	8.1%	8.0%	7.9%	7.4%	7.2%	7.2%

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Motorcycles
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
Tested	584,900	745,000	801,000	873,200	902,600	897,900	942,000	948,300	989,600	1,032,400	967,000
PRS²					48,500	57,900	70,900	76,100	79,200	85,500	80,300
Failed	108,200	134,000	166,500	164,100	115,900	118,700	124,700	126,100	126,200	130,500	119,000
Initial Failure Rate³	18.5%	18.0%	20.8%	18.8%	18.2%	19.7%	20.8%	21.3%	20.8%	20.9%	20.6%
Final Failure Rate⁴					12.8%	13.2%	13.2%	13.3%	12.8%	12.6%	12.3%