The picture
Michigan: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 768 MOT tests, the Michigan returns 72.0% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-functioning shock absorber. Stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls and a missing rear reflector round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 6,420, 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 shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
56 occurrences · 7.3% of tests
- 02
A stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released
22 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 03
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
18 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 04
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
17 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 05
Steering head bearings have excessive wear or play
12 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 06
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
12 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 07
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
11 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 08
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
10 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 09
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
10 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 10
Contaminated with oil, grease etc
9 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 3 failures
£106–£260
If every one of this Michigan'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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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.
Buying or keeping a Michigan?
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 Michigan 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.