Know Your MOT

MOT failure rate and common problems for the Ram 1500, and how to check your own car by registration.

Updated 05 September 2026.

13.6%fail rate

Ram 1500 MOT failure rate

What a Ram 1500 fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.

What it fails on, and why

Suspension62.5% 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.

Lamps & electrical62.5% 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.

Brakes50.0% 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.

Other12.5% of failures

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

Tyres12.5% 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.

Visibility/wipers12.5% 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.

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 suspension failure: Ram 1500 suspension springs and shock absorbersShop Ram 1500 suspension springs and shock absorbers on AmazonaffiliateFind Ram 1500 suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Ram 1500 headlight and indicator bulbsShop Ram 1500 headlight and indicator bulbs on AmazonaffiliateFind Ram 1500 headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Ram 1500 brake pads and discsShop Ram 1500 brake pads and discs on AmazonaffiliateFind Ram 1500 brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Ram 1500 tyresShop Ram 1500 tyres on AmazonaffiliateFind Ram 1500 tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Ram 1500 wiper bladesShop Ram 1500 wiper blades on AmazonaffiliateFind Ram 1500 wiper blades on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Ram Cobra MOT failures15.9% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rateFord Focus MOT failures26.1% failure rateVauxhall Corsa MOT failures29.9% failure rate

Questions and answers

What is the MOT failure rate of the Ram 1500?

It fails 13.6% of its MOT tests across the DVSA record, from 59 tests.

What do these cars fail their MOT on most?

The most common failure area is suspension, at 62.5% of this model's failures.