Know Your MOT
23.1%fail rate

Dutton Sierra common MOT failures and failure rate

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

Based on 208 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 23.1% of MOT tests recorded on the Dutton Sierra 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 47.9% of the Dutton Sierra's failures, followed by brakes, lamps & electrical, suspension, visibility/wipers. 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

Brakes47.9% 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.

Lamps & electrical43.8% 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.

Suspension35.4% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Visibility/wipers22.9% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Steering16.7% 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.

Other16.7% of failures

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

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: Dutton Sierra brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Dutton Sierra brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Dutton Sierra brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Dutton Sierra headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Dutton Sierra headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Dutton Sierra headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Dutton Sierra suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Dutton Sierra suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Dutton Sierra suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Dutton Sierra wiper bladesSearch Amazon for Dutton Sierra wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind Dutton Sierra wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Dutton Sierra steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Dutton Sierra steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Dutton Sierra steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Dutton Phaeton MOT failures19.8% failure rateDutton Melos MOT failures20.8% failure rateDutton Sports MOT failures30.3% 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