Know Your MOT

MOT failure rate and common problems for the Francis Barnett Falcon, and how to check your own car by registration.

Updated 05 September 2026.

8.7%fail rate

Francis Barnett Falcon MOT failure rate

What a Francis Barnett Falcon fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.

What it fails on, and why

Lamps & electrical15.3% 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.

Tyres13.6% 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.

Brakes11.9% 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.

Suspension6.8% 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.

Other3.4% of failures

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

Registration plate1.7% of failures

A missing, damaged, dirty or incorrectly-spaced number plate, or one using the wrong font, will fail. A replacement plate is inexpensive.

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. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the lamps & electrical failure: Francis Barnett Falcon headlight and indicator bulbsShop Francis Barnett Falcon headlight and indicator bulbs on AmazonaffiliateFind Francis Barnett Falcon headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Francis Barnett Falcon tyresShop Francis Barnett Falcon tyres on AmazonaffiliateFind Francis Barnett Falcon tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Francis Barnett Falcon brake pads and discsShop Francis Barnett Falcon brake pads and discs on AmazonaffiliateFind Francis Barnett Falcon brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Francis Barnett Falcon suspension springs and shock absorbersShop Francis Barnett Falcon suspension springs and shock absorbers on AmazonaffiliateFind Francis Barnett Falcon suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the registration plate failure: Francis Barnett Falcon number plateShop Francis Barnett Falcon number plate on AmazonaffiliateFind Francis Barnett Falcon number plate on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Francis Barnett Cruiser MOT failures7.7% failure rateFrancis Barnett Plover MOT failures11.7% failure rateFrancis Barnett Fulmar MOT failures13.7% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Questions and answers

What is the MOT failure rate of the Francis Barnett Falcon?

It fails 8.7% of its MOT tests across the DVSA record, from 679 tests.

What do these cars fail their MOT on most?

The most common failure area is lamps & electrical, at 15.3% of this model's failures.