The picture
Modena: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 850 MOT tests, the Modena returns 77.2% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is headlamp missing, inoperative. Projected beam image is obviously incorrect and brake efficiency below minimum requirement round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 4,413, 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 headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
23 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 02
Projected beam image is obviously incorrect
18 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 03
Brake efficiency below minimum requirement
15 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 04
A tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned likely which could cause sudden deflation of the tyre
13 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 05
Audible warning not working
12 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 06
Steering head bearings have excessive wear or play
11 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 07
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
10 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 08
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
10 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 09
Brake control has insufficient reserve travel
9 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 10
A stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released
9 occurrences · 1.1% 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.
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Buying or keeping a Modena?
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 Modena 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.