The picture
Mr2: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 13,420 MOT tests, the Mr2 returns 71.4% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a weak handbrake. A defective headlamp lens and parking brake inoperative on one side round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 95,147, 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
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
1,031 occurrences · 7.7% of tests
- 02
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
628 occurrences · 4.7% of tests
- 03
Parking brake inoperative on one side
588 occurrences · 4.4% of tests
- 04
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
459 occurrences · 3.4% of tests
- 05
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
355 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
- 06
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
334 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 07
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
329 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 08
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
328 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 09
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value
302 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 10
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
298 occurrences · 2.2% 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.
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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 Mr2?
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 Mr2 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.