The picture
Vfr800 Fi: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 3,214 MOT tests, the Vfr800 Fi returns 89.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-functioning shock absorber. Tyre tread under the limit and brake pads worn below 1.0 mm round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 36,955, 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 shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
40 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 02
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
39 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 03
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
24 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 04
Brake efficiency below minimum requirement
20 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 05
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
20 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 06
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
19 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 07
Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play
15 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 08
A stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released
13 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
12 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 10
A lamp missing or inoperative
12 occurrences · 0.4% 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 3 failures
£148–£290
If every one of this Vfr800 FI'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
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
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · 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
Buying or keeping a Vfr800 FI?
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 Vfr800 FI 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.