The picture
R80: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,008 MOT tests, the R80 returns 89.4% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a stop-lamp out. A missing rear reflector and a non-conforming number plate round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 36,854, 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
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
8 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 02
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
7 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 03
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
5 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 04
Rate of flashing not between 60 and 120 times per minute
5 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 05
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
5 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
4 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 07
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
4 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 08
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
4 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
Brake efficiency below minimum requirement
3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
3 occurrences · 0.3% 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.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£23–£70
If every one of this R80's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a R80?
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 R80 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.