The picture
Zs 125-79 Hoodlum: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 505 MOT tests, the Zs 125-79 Hoodlum returns 71.1% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-functioning shock absorber. A stop-lamp out and a binding brake round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 6,214, 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
40 occurrences · 7.9% of tests
- 02
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
26 occurrences · 5.1% of tests
- 03
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
16 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 04
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
15 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 05
Steering head bearings have excessive wear or play
13 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
- 06
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
11 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 07
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
9 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 08
Brake efficiency below minimum requirement
8 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 09
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
8 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 10
Brake control has insufficient reserve travel
7 occurrences · 1.4% 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
£98–£225
If every one of this ZS 125 79 Hoodlum'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 ZS 125 79 Hoodlum?
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 ZS 125 79 Hoodlum 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.