The picture
728: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 965 MOT tests, the 728 returns 75.3% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a torn suspension dust cover. Worn suspension bushes and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 132,661, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
109 occurrences · 11.3% of tests
- 02
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
35 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
33 occurrences · 3.4% of tests
- 04
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
29 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 05
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
28 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 06
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
24 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 07
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
20 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 08
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
20 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 09
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
19 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 10
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
19 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£320–£960
If every one of this 728's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Buying or keeping a 728?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 728 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.