Kawasaki
ZX
6,326 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where ZXs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 12.6 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.1%
Pass-after-fix
5.5%
Fail
4.2%
Avg miles
16,597
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
The picture
Zx: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 4,702 MOT tests, the Zx returns 89.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. Brake pads worn below 1.0 mm and a non-conforming number plate round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 15,458, 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.
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- 01
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
42 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 02
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
24 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 03
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
18 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 04
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
15 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 05
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
14 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 06
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
14 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 07
Rate of flashing not between 60 and 120 times per minute
13 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 08
Audible warning not working
13 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 09
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
12 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 10
Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play
11 occurrences · 0.2% 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 ZX'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
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Buying or keeping a ZX?
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 ZX 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.