The picture
Sandero: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 118,979 MOT tests, the Sandero returns 75.0% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a missing CV-joint boot. A broken or weak spring and wipers that don't clear the screen round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 46,625, 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
4,433 occurrences · 3.7% of tests
- 02
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
3,247 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 03
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
3,225 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 04
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
2,719 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 05
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
2,419 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 06
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
2,115 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 07
Wiper blade defective
1,925 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 08
Audible warning inoperative
1,713 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
1,683 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 10
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
1,388 occurrences · 1.2% 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
£240–£620
If every one of this Sandero'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.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a Sandero?
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 Sandero 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.