The picture
Thruxton: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 2,842 MOT tests, the Thruxton returns 91.1% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-conforming number plate. A missing rear reflector and headlamp missing, inoperative round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 8,894, 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
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
19 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 02
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
18 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 03
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
12 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 04
A stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released
9 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 05
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
8 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 06
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
8 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 07
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
8 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 08
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
7 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 09
Reflector colour or position not in accordance with the requirements
7 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 10
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
6 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
£33–£150
If every one of this Thruxton'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
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
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
Buying or keeping a Thruxton?
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 Thruxton 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.