Know Your MOT
13.5%fail rate

Bsa Lightening common MOT failures and failure rate

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

Based on 156 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 13.5% of MOT tests recorded on the Bsa Lightening in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is brakes, which makes up 28.6% of the Bsa Lightening's failures, followed by brakes, steering, lamps & electrical, other. 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

Brakes28.6% 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.

Steering19.0% 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.

Lamps & electrical19.0% 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.

Other14.3% of failures

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

Fuel system9.5% of failures

Fuel-system failures are leaks or an insecure filler cap.

Tyres9.5% 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.

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

Other models

Bsa A10 MOT failures7.8% failure rateBsa Bantam MOT failures10.2% failure rateBsa C15 MOT failures10.0% 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