Know Your MOT
17.1%fail rate

Sym Av05w common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Sym Av05w fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.

About 17.1% of Sym Av05ws fail their MOT, and the same handful of items account for most of it.

The most common failure is brakes, which makes up 37.1% of the Sym Av05w's failures, followed by brakes, lamps & electrical, other, exhaust & emissions. 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

Brakes37.1% 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 & electrical24.7% 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.

Other12.9% of failures

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

Exhaust & emissions10.3% 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.

Steering9.3% 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.

Tyres4.6% 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.

Failure rate by year

201119.3% fail · 373 tests
201215.5% fail · 440 tests
201316.7% fail · 264 tests

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 brakes failure: Sym Av05w brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Sym Av05w brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Sym Av05w brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Sym Av05w headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Sym Av05w headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Sym Av05w headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Sym Av05w exhaustSearch Amazon for Sym Av05w exhaustaffiliate searchFind Sym Av05w exhaust on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Sym Av05w steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Sym Av05w steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Sym Av05w steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Sym Av05w tyresSearch Amazon for Sym Av05w tyresaffiliate searchFind Sym Av05w tyres on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Sym Jet MOT failures21.6% failure rateSym Symply MOT failures20.1% failure rateSym Fiddle MOT failures19.1% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data · DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain