Know Your MOT

MOT failure rate and common problems for the Harley Davidson Switchback, and how to check your own car by registration.

Updated 05 September 2026.

10.3%fail rate

Harley Davidson Switchback MOT failure rate

What a Harley Davidson Switchback fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.

What it fails on, and why

Tyres36.8% 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.

Other21.1% of failures

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

Lamps & electrical15.8% 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.

Brakes15.8% 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.

Exhaust & emissions10.5% 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.

Body & structure5.3% 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.

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 tyres failure: Harley Davidson Switchback tyresShop Harley Davidson Switchback tyres on AmazonaffiliateFind Harley Davidson Switchback tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Harley Davidson Switchback headlight and indicator bulbsShop Harley Davidson Switchback headlight and indicator bulbs on AmazonaffiliateFind Harley Davidson Switchback headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Harley Davidson Switchback brake pads and discsShop Harley Davidson Switchback brake pads and discs on AmazonaffiliateFind Harley Davidson Switchback brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Harley Davidson Switchback exhaustShop Harley Davidson Switchback exhaust on AmazonaffiliateFind Harley Davidson Switchback exhaust on eBayaffiliate

Other models

All Harley Davidson models MOT failure rates comparedRanked worst to bestHarley Davidson Xl MOT failures10.7% failure rateHarley Davidson Flstf MOT failures9.8% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Questions and answers

What is the MOT failure rate of the Harley Davidson Switchback?

It fails 10.3% of its MOT tests across the DVSA record, from 185 tests.

What do these cars fail their MOT on most?

The most common failure area is tyres, at 36.8% of this model's failures.