Dacia
3,473 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Duster Essential Tce 4x2s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 4.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
82.3%
Pass-after-fix
7.4%
Fail
10.0%
Avg miles
27,883
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 3,473 tests
Pass rate climbs 3.4 points across the cohorts — newer Duster Essential Tce 4x2 examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
81.0%
Fail
10.7%
PRS
8.2%
Avg mileage at test
31,169 mi
Pass
84.4%
Fail
8.9%
PRS
6.3%
Avg mileage at test
23,113 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,489 MOT tests, the Duster Essential Tce 4x2 returns 83.1% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. A seriously damaged tyre and headlamp or light source missing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 23,665, 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.
ABI Insurance Group
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
16–24
out of 50
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Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
76 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
59 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Wiper blade defective
48 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
46 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
38 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
37 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
27 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
25 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
19 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
17 occurrences · 0.5% 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 5 failures
£120–£345
If every one of this Duster Essential Tce 4x2'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.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 3.4-point gap between bands means the year you buy Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4x2 has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
84.4%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 84.4% — a 3.4-point improvement. Tests in this band average 23,113 miles — roughly 8K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, blade defective — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
81.0%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 81.0% pass rate against a fleet average of 84.4% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, does not clear the windscreen effectively, and not working on dipped beam. Average mileage on test for this band is 31,169 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (84.4% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (81.0% pass). That's a 3.4-point spread across 2,054 older tests and 1,419 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
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
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Motor World
Motor World Dacia Sandero/Logan/Jogger 2013- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
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Motor World
Motor World Dacia Duster 2013- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Dacia Duster 2018- With Passenger SEAT Draw Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Dacia Duster 2018- Without Passenger SEAT Draw Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
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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 Duster Essential Tce 4x2 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.
