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fiTop Five MOT Failures Revealed
The MOT is a yearly requirement for British Motorists, serving as an essential safety checkpoint for the more than 40 million vehicles registered on our roads. Whilst the MOT is undeniably valuable, it can be a large cause of anxiety. Will your car be given a clean bill of health, or will you be handed a hefty estimate for essential repairs?
Safety, of course, must remain front-of-mind. That’s why, with the help of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data, we’ve compiled this list of the most common MOT failure points to keep your eye on.
Lamps, Reflectors, and Electrical Equipment
It comes as no surprise that electrical components top the list, accounting for over 25% of total MOT failures in the 22/23 financial year. While some failures may stem from routine issues like burnt-out bulbs, the crystal maze of modern vehicle wiring systems can present a host of challenges. Some modern cars are supplied with more than 3,000 wires, and countless control modules intricately woven into ever more complex circuits making the diagnosis and rectification of electrical faults potentially challenging and costly.
Thankfully, at ACtronics, we’re on hand to help with our in-house testing system. We can verify the functionality of a wide range of components, and if they’re found to be an issue, remanufacture them to a like-new standard, with a 2-year warranty!
Search the range here: www.actroncis.co.uk/
Suspension
Rubber bushes, coil springs, and shock absorbers are the protection your car relies on from hard impacts and rough roads, they also rank as the second most common culprits behind MOT failures.
Suspension-related issues accounted for a significant 8.67% of all MOT failures. Failed suspension components can result in not just poor driveability and ride comfort, but outright danger.
Braking Systems
Whilst a large proportion of braking-related MOT failures are likely to stem from inadequate maintenance, or wear and tear of consumable items like brake discs and pads, it is not uncommon to see failures within a car's anti-lock braking system.
The intricate combination of valves, actuators, and control modules carefully helps to ensure the optimal braking pressure is applied regardless of the conditions, however, in 2023 we at ACtronics saw a 4% percent increase in the number of ABS units being sent into our UK-based facility for remanufacturing.
Tyres
Whilst there exists no explicit rules, industry experts recommend replacing tyres every five years, irrespective of tread depth. Whilst the initial outlay of replacement tyres can be a bitter pill to swallow, the prevents motorists from being caught out due to the natural degradation of the rubber compound.
Handily, it’s easy to check the age of your tyres, if you look at the sidewall of your tyre, you’ll find the week and year they were produced.
Visibility
Seeing where you’re going is pretty important! From cracks in windscreens to obstructions like phone and satellite navigation mounts blocking the driver's view, even perished wiper blades contribute to a myriad of MOT failures. Collectively, visibility-related faults accounted for just under 5% of all MOT failures in the financial year 2022-2023.
By addressing some of these common failure points before your next MOT, hopefully, we can help you avoid any unexpected bills. An MOT, however, is just a snapshot of the condition of your car at that moment, it’s important to periodically check worn items throughout the year.
There are, of course, hundreds more potential reasons that your vehicle could fail to pass its MOT. If you’re looking for a recommended MOT station, have a fault with an electrical component, or need some pre-MOT advice. Why not reach out to one of our ACtronics Service Points?
Find out more: https://www.actronics.co.uk/private-individuals/