Know Your MOT
21.1%fail rate

Armstrong Rotax common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Armstrong Rotax fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 90 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 21.1% of MOT tests recorded on the Armstrong Rotax in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is lamps & electrical, which makes up 36.8% of the Armstrong Rotax's failures, followed by lamps & electrical, other, brakes, tyres. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Lamps & electrical36.8% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Other26.3% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Brakes21.1% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Tyres15.8% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Steering5.3% of failures

Steering faults are typically worn track-rod ends or ball joints, play in the rack, or a split gaiter letting grease out and dirt in. Excessive free play at the wheel fails.

Exhaust & emissions5.3% of failures

Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the lamps & electrical failure: Armstrong Rotax headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Armstrong Rotax headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Armstrong Rotax headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Armstrong Rotax brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Armstrong Rotax brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Armstrong Rotax brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Armstrong Rotax tyresSearch Amazon for Armstrong Rotax tyresaffiliate searchFind Armstrong Rotax tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Armstrong Rotax steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Armstrong Rotax steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Armstrong Rotax steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Armstrong Rotax exhaustSearch Amazon for Armstrong Rotax exhaustaffiliate searchFind Armstrong Rotax exhaust on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Armstrong Mt500 MOT failures12.2% failure rateArmstrong Mt MOT failures11.2% failure rateArmstrong Siddeley MOT failures17.0% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain