The picture
T5: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 898 MOT tests, the T5 returns 85.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is direction indicator lamp missing. Headlamp missing, inoperative and headlamp missing, inoperative round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 14,522, 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 direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
24 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 02
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
16 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 03
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
9 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 04
A lamp missing or inoperative
7 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 05
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
6 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 06
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
6 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 07
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
6 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 08
A tyre not fitted in accordance with the direction of rotation marked on the side wall
6 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 09
Headlamp aim unable to be tested
6 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 10
A wheel bearing with excessive play
5 occurrences · 0.6% 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
£30–£240
If every one of this T5'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 →
Try the calculator
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.
Buying or keeping a T5?
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 T5 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.