The picture
Silvia: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 545 MOT tests, the Silvia returns 81.8% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is lambda coefficient outside the default limits. A torn steering gaiter and battery insecure but not likely to fall round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 93,396, 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
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
16 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 02
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
15 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 03
A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier
9 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 04
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
9 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 05
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
8 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 06
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
8 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 07
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
7 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 08
Emissions levels exceed default limits
7 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 09
Emissions levels exceed default limits
7 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
6 occurrences · 1.1% 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
£90–£320
If every one of this Silvia'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 Silvia?
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 Silvia 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.