The picture
I: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 568 MOT tests, the I returns 76.9% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a torn steering gaiter. A torn suspension dust cover and a defective headlamp lens round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 47,460, 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
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
75 occurrences · 13.2% of tests
- 02
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
53 occurrences · 9.3% of tests
- 03
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
24 occurrences · 4.2% of tests
- 04
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
20 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 05
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
19 occurrences · 3.3% of tests
- 06
Wiper blade defective
17 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 07
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
15 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
- 08
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
15 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
- 09
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
14 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
13 occurrences · 2.3% 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 4 failures
£250–£800
If every one of this I'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 I?
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 I 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.