Know Your MOT
15.2%fail rate

DAF 55 common MOT failures and failure rate

What a DAF 55 fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 158 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 15.2% of MOT tests recorded on the DAF 55 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 41.7% of the DAF 55's failures, followed by lamps & electrical, body & structure, exhaust & emissions, brakes. 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 & electrical41.7% 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.

Body & structure16.7% of failures

Structural failures are corrosion in load-bearing areas, sharp edges, or insecure panels. These are inspection-and-welding jobs rather than a simple bolt-on part, so weigh them against the value of the car.

Exhaust & emissions12.5% 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.

Brakes12.5% 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.

Other12.5% of failures

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

Seat belts12.5% of failures

Seat-belt failures are frays, cuts, corroded anchorages, or a belt that will not lock under a sharp pull or retract properly.

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: DAF 55 headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for DAF 55 headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind DAF 55 headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: DAF 55 exhaustSearch Amazon for DAF 55 exhaustaffiliate searchFind DAF 55 exhaust on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: DAF 55 brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for DAF 55 brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind DAF 55 brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the seat belts failure: DAF 55 seat beltsSearch Amazon for DAF 55 seat beltsaffiliate searchFind DAF 55 seat belts on eBayaffiliate

Other models

DAF Lf MOT failures14.6% failure rateDAF Cf MOT failures13.4% failure rateDAF Xf MOT failures9.4% 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