Motorists are receiving an MOT fail for a wide range of obscure reasons, according to new research from eBay.
While suspension faults topped the list for overall MOT fail outcomes, with broken springs accounting for more than 821,991 unsuccessful MOTs, a total of 394 vehicles were failed for ‘missing’ suspension springs. In addition, 20 vehicles failed for having a ‘missing suspension arm’ and 14 for ‘missing’ entire MacPherson struts, all key suspension components.
Not all failures were hidden away. Analysis of the data revealed 61 motorists were driving vehicles with two different headlights, while 3,485 vehicles failed for lacking a wiper blade.
Tyres remain most common MOT fail
eBay analysed data obtained from a Freedom of Information request submitted to the DVSA. It investigated MOT failures between 1 June 2024 and 30 June 2025.
Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit were the single most common cause of failure, affecting more than 1,081,318 vehicles. Fractured suspension springs, with 821,911 MOT fails, and brake pads worn below 1.5mm at 768,436 rejections were the next most frequent issues.
In the tyre category, which was the fourth highest overall for failures, eight vehicles failed due to inadequate tyre speed ratings, a risk that can cause overheating and blowouts at higher speeds. A further 414 cars failed for being fitted with different size tyres across the same axle.
Other safety issues that should have been obvious to spot, but led to an MOT fail, included 265 failures for brake performance, specifically when vehicles swerved to the nearside during testing, and 516 failures due to cut or reworked seatbelt webbing, which could weaken restraint in a crash.
Table: The UK’s most common MOT failure categories, including the most and least common individual reasons
| Failure category | Total failures | Most/Least common | Failure sub-category | Reason for failure | Number of failures |
| Suspension | 4,917,714 | Most common | Springs | Fractured or broken | 821,911 |
| = Least common | Springs | Attachment fractured | 2 | ||
| Suspension rods | Mounting modified so suspension inoperative | 2 | |||
| Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment | 4,550,208 | Most common | Position lamps | Not working | 767,167 |
| = Least common | Electrical equipment | Connectors for steering disconnected | 3 | ||
| Outline marker lamps | Has a product on the lens or light source which shows red light to the front | 3 | |||
| Brakes | 4,119,090 | Most common | Mechanical brake components | Less than 1.5 mm thick | 768,436 |
| = Least common | Hand operated control valves | Operating spindle insecure | 1 | ||
| Other components and prescribed areas | Does not allow gradual variation in effort in the case of an electronic retarder | 1 | |||
| Pressure storage reservoirs | Heavily damaged | 1 | |||
| Tyres | 3,079,882 | Most common | Tread depth | Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 1,081,318 |
| Least common | Size/type | Has an inadequate speed rating | 8 | ||
| Body, Chassis, Structure | 1,584,075 | Most common | Transmission | Constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 556,211 |
| = Least common | Cabs | Obviously not squarely located on chassis | 3 | ||
| Driving controls | Not functioning correctly | 3 |
