The picture
250: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 470 MOT tests, the 250 returns 80.2% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. A corroded brake pipe and a split CV-joint boot round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 102,144, 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
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
15 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 02
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
10 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 03
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
10 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 04
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
9 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 05
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
9 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 06
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
9 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 07
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
7 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 08
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
6 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
6 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 10
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
6 occurrences · 1.3% 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 3 failures
£180–£425
If every one of this 250'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 250?
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 250 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.