MOT cost .

Failure category

Suspension

Springs, bushes, ball joints, sub-frame corrosion, shock absorbers. The category most likely to need a lift to diagnose, never a quick DIY fix.

Defect codes

58

Total fails

3,260,365

Defect codes in this category, ranked.

Sorted by total cars affected last year. Click any row for the full defect description plus the models most at risk.

  1. 01

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    385 models affected

    777,605
  2. 02

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    448 models affected

    536,592
  3. 03

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    397 models affected

    501,048
  4. 04

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    332 models affected

    421,845
  5. 05

    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

    249 models affected

    241,925
  6. 06

    A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage

    391 models affected

    212,070
  7. 07

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    142 models affected

    146,465
  8. 08

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    128 models affected

    113,350
  9. 09

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    156 models affected

    104,104
  10. 10

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    84 models affected

    56,555
  11. 11

    A shock absorber bush excessively worn

    32 models affected

    46,048
  12. 12

    A stub axle swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn

    5 models affected

    32,213
  13. 13

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    40 models affected

    22,561
  14. 14

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    32 models affected

    18,791
  15. 15

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    27 models affected

    10,578
  16. 16

    A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely

    155 models affected

    6,092
  17. 17

    A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded

    9 models affected

    3,002
  18. 18

    A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded

    6 models affected

    2,035
  19. 19

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    5 models affected

    1,661
  20. 20

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    19 models affected

    1,295
  21. 21

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    5 models affected

    1,007
  22. 22

    A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely

    31 models affected

    906
  23. 23

    A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing excessively worn

    5 models affected

    450
  24. 24

    A suspension component fractured or likely to fail

    7 models affected

    371
  25. 25

    A suspension pin, bush or joint likely to become detached

    21 models affected

    327
  26. 26

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    3 models affected

    240
  27. 27

    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

    2 models affected

    210
  28. 28

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    4 models affected

    208
  29. 29

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    4 models affected

    172
  30. 30

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    14 models affected

    155
  31. 31

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    3 models affected

    100
  32. 32

    A suspension component missing, likely to become detached or directional stability impaired

    1 models affected

    98
  33. 33

    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

    2 models affected

    63
  34. 34

    A shock absorber which has negligible damping effect

    5 models affected

    34
  35. 35

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    4 models affected

    26
  36. 36

    A shock absorber bush excessively worn

    3 models affected

    20
  37. 37

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    3 models affected

    17
  38. 38

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    3 models affected

    16
  39. 39

    A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded

    1 models affected

    16
  40. 40

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    1 models affected

    15
  41. 41

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    3 models affected

    13
  42. 42

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    3 models affected

    8
  43. 43

    A shock absorber missing or likely to become detached

    2 models affected

    8
  44. 44

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    1 models affected

    6
  45. 45

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    1 models affected

    5
  46. 46

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    1 models affected

    5
  47. 47

    A suspension component missing, likely to become detached or directional stability impaired

    1 models affected

    4
  48. 48

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    1 models affected

    4
  49. 49

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    1 models affected

    4
  50. 50

    A suspension component missing, likely to become detached or directional stability impaired

    1 models affected

    3
  51. 51

    A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded

    1 models affected

    3
  52. 52

    A suspension component fractured or likely to fail

    1 models affected

    3
  53. 53

    A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

    1 models affected

    3
  54. 54

    A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded

    1 models affected

    3
  55. 55

    A suspension component with an unsafe modification

    1 models affected

    2
  56. 56

    A spring insecurely attached to chassis or axle

    1 models affected

    2
  57. 57

    A suspension component missing, likely to become detached or directional stability impaired

    1 models affected

    2
  58. 58

    A suspension component with an unsafe modification

    1 models affected

    1

Brands most affected.

Total category-fails across each manufacturer's tested fleet. High-volume brands naturally lead — read alongside their model pass-rates.