The picture
Space Star: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 2,555 MOT tests, the Space Star returns 59.9% first-time pass — near the bottom of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. A torn suspension dust cover and a defective headlamp lens round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 88,263, 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
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
356 occurrences · 13.9% of tests
- 02
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
311 occurrences · 12.2% of tests
- 03
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
308 occurrences · 12.1% of tests
- 04
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
216 occurrences · 8.5% of tests
- 05
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
183 occurrences · 7.2% of tests
- 06
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
183 occurrences · 7.2% of tests
- 07
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
163 occurrences · 6.4% of tests
- 08
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
125 occurrences · 4.9% of tests
- 09
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
125 occurrences · 4.9% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
121 occurrences · 4.7% 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
£170–£560
If every one of this Space Star'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 Space Star?
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 Space Star 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.