The picture
Sh 125 Ad-L: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 830 MOT tests, the Sh 125 Ad-L returns 86.9% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is brake pads worn below 1.0 mm. Stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 29,141, 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
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
26 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 02
A stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released
19 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
17 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 04
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
9 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 05
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
7 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 06
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
5 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 07
A stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released
5 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 08
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
4 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
4 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play
4 occurrences · 0.5% 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
£156–£325
If every one of this SH 125 AD L'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
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · 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 SH 125 AD L?
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 SH 125 AD L 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.