The picture
4/4: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 2,128 MOT tests, the 4/4 returns 86.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a binding brake. Brakes imbalance across an axle such and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 32,019, 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
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
32 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 02
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
24 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
23 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 04
Wiper blade defective
20 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 05
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
19 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 06
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
18 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 07
Stop lamps all missing or inoperative
17 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 08
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
17 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
15 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 10
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
14 occurrences · 0.7% 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 2 failures
£100–£285
If every one of this 4/4'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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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 4/4?
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 4/4 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.