MOT Risk Index.co.uk

The 20 worst cars for MOT failure

Ranked by the MOT Risk Index — how much more often a family fails its MOT than its age predicts (100 = normal, 150 = 50% worse). Computed from DVSA initial tests, calendar 2024, age-standardised so old fleets aren't unfairly punished. Same data, opposite end:the most reliable cars.

  1. Trend from 27.8 to 48.2 Citroen Berlingo — index 157.7: fails about 58% more often than expected for its age (39.91% of 270,806 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources).
  2. Trend from 24.3 to 50.8 Vauxhall Vivaro — index 156.4: fails about 56% more often than expected for its age (41.93% of 275,396 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  3. Trend from 16.5 to 49.4 DS 3 — index 150.2: fails about 50% more often than expected for its age (40.69% of 158,830 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc).
  4. Trend from 11.8 to 49.0 Renault Clio — index 141.5: fails about 42% more often than expected for its age (41.43% of 473,424 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  5. Trend from 9.4 to 34.4 Vauxhall Mokka — index 133.5: fails about 34% more often than expected for its age (27.34% of 332,738 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc).
  6. Trend from 11.3 to 40.4 Peugeot 208 — index 126.7: fails about 27% more often than expected for its age (27.87% of 295,225 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources).
  7. Trend from 8.2 to 45.4 Nissan Juke — index 124.7: fails about 25% more often than expected for its age (28.37% of 460,457 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  8. Trend from 11.3 to 47.0 Seat Ibiza — index 124.2: fails about 24% more often than expected for its age (32.1% of 296,654 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  9. Trend from 18.3 to 43.6 Vauxhall Corsa — index 123.5: fails about 24% more often than expected for its age (36.66% of 1,191,943 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated).
  10. Trend from 9.7 to 55.2 Nissan Qashqai — index 122.9: fails about 23% more often than expected for its age (30.07% of 800,602 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  11. Trend from 13.8 to 14.8 Tesla Model 3 — index 122.9: fails about 23% more often than expected for its age (14.03% of 116,025 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements).
  12. Trend from 19.3 to 48.3 Vauxhall Zafira — index 118.6: fails about 19% more often than expected for its age (38.47% of 281,888 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  13. Trend from 12.3 to 45.3 Ford Fiesta — index 117.8: fails about 18% more often than expected for its age (34.33% of 1,959,383 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  14. Trend from 11.3 to 42.8 Fiat 500 — index 116.2: fails about 16% more often than expected for its age (31.68% of 477,588 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  15. Trend from 10.5 to 49.5 Volkswagen Polo — index 114.8: fails about 15% more often than expected for its age (32.68% of 895,817 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  16. Trend from 8.3 to 47.4 Nissan Micra — index 112.5: fails about 13% more often than expected for its age (36.12% of 342,234 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  17. Trend from 17.2 to 40.8 Vauxhall Insignia — index 111.3: fails about 11% more often than expected for its age (30.4% of 300,589 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources).
  18. Trend from 11.2 to 46.0 Kia Picanto — index 111.0: fails about 11% more often than expected for its age (28.14% of 262,067 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a tyre seriously damaged).
  19. Trend from 11.5 to 50.5 Ford Ka — index 109.5: fails about 10% more often than expected for its age (33.29% of 253,099 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).
  20. Trend from 8.8 to 31.4 Nissan Leaf — index 109.2: fails about 9% more often than expected for its age (17.69% of 70,882 tests found a failing defect; most common failure: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn).

Families where the margin of error includes 100 are excluded from this ranking. Full method:methodology · dataset release dvsa-2024-v1 ·national statistics + CSV.