The picture
S-Type: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 16,824 MOT tests, the S-Type returns 69.2% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a torn suspension dust cover. A torn steering gaiter and a missing suspension dust cover round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 94,369, 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 suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
1,759 occurrences · 10.5% of tests
- 02
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
1,046 occurrences · 6.2% of tests
- 03
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
1,033 occurrences · 6.1% of tests
- 04
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
756 occurrences · 4.5% of tests
- 05
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
750 occurrences · 4.5% of tests
- 06
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
698 occurrences · 4.1% of tests
- 07
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
650 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 08
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
590 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 09
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
581 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 10
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
507 occurrences · 3.0% 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
£330–£1040
If every one of this S Type'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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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.
Buying or keeping a S Type?
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 S Type 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.