Top 5 Common MOT Failure Items

The blog this week is about the top 5 common MOT failure items. These are lighting & signalling, suspension, brakes, tyres and driver visibility. Is your Volvo or Toyota MOT ready? Running a car has become a major expense, especially with the ever-increasing fuel prices. Everyone wants to save money on a monthly basis, maybe for that annual holiday or your children’s university fund or for home improvements. Maybe it is to counteract the constant increases in your weekly food shops or increased utility bills. Read on to find out more:

The blog this week is about the top 5 common things that could mean your Volvo or Toyota will fail its MOT. You may think ‘Why do they matter?’ or “It does not affect the car” However rules are rules and they need to be adhered to. So, before you book your Volvo or Toyota in for its MOT we always advise that you check over your car yourself to help reduce the probability of it failing on a simple item! Read on to find out more:

On average nearly 2 in 5 cars will fail the MOT the first time, often through minor issues that you, the car owner, could action before bringing your car for the MOT Test. This will save you time and possibly money in the long run if you give your Volvo or Toyota the once over first.

Top Tip:

Be wary of places that offer very cheap MOT’s. An MOT should take approximately an hour to complete. VOSA has set the maximum charge at £54.85. How can a garage pay its overheads if they charge only say, £20/£25 for the MOT? It does not make financial sense. Their wage bill will be that alone for the technician, so how are the overheads for the business going to be covered?

Good independent garages will include wiper blade changes (labour cost not parts) etc FOC in this fee but garages that charge cheap prices will charge for every minute they spend doing minor things to recoup their costs/overheads so beware of enticing cheap MOT’s – if it seems too good to be true it usually is!

The top five reasons a car failed its MOT are:

1. Lamps, Reflectors & Electrics. This accounts for nearly 30% of all MOT test failures. Common issues include blown bulbs, broken registration plate lamps and an incorrect headlight aim.
2. Suspension Systems. This accounts for roughly 20% of failures. Common issues include broken coil springs – not surprising with the state of our roads, worn out shock absorbers and damaged lower arm or joints.
3. Brakes. Poor braking performance leads to a large number of rejections. Common issues include worn brake pads below legal limits, seized callipers and inefficient parking brakes.  
4. Tyres. This is an essential item checked closely by your MOT inspector. You can check your tyres using the 20p method and should be doing so regularly. If the tread is below 1.6mm or if there are any cuts or bulges on the tyre the vehicle will be failed.  
5. Driver Visibility. Anything obstructing the drivers view or failing to clear the screen. Damaged wiper blades, cracked or chipped windscreens in the swept area and of course low washer fluid are things that will result in a fail.

So, as you can see – these 5  reasons for MOT failure can easily be rectified – or better still, avoided in the first instance. Look after your Volvo or Toyota throughout the year. Get issues dealt with promptly and do not ignore warning lights on the dashboard. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!

ACC UK Limited
Farnborough, Hampshire
Serving surrounding areas across North Hampshire and Surrey

Call us today on 01252 370701 to book in your MOT, service or repair

Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, GRA – Outstanding Automotive Service Excellence 2025, GRA – Outstanding Customer Service – Automotive Sector UK 2026, Motor Trader Indies Garage of the Year Award 2025, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire