Know Your MOT
5.7%fail rate

Norton Classic common MOT failures and failure rate

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

Based on 871 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 5.7% of MOT tests recorded on the Norton Classic 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 28.0% of the Norton Classic's failures, followed by lamps & electrical, brakes, other, tyres. 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 & electrical28.0% 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.

Brakes16.0% 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.

Other8.0% of failures

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

Tyres4.0% 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.

Fuel system4.0% of failures

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

Steering2.0% 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.

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

Other models

Norton Commando MOT failures8.6% failure rateNorton Dominator MOT failures6.8% failure rateNorton Commander MOT failures7.8% 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