Know Your MOT
18.6%fail rate

Sym Aw12w Fiddle common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Sym Aw12w Fiddle fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 796 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 18.6% of MOT tests recorded on the Sym Aw12w Fiddle in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is brakes, which makes up 33.8% of the Sym Aw12w Fiddle's failures, followed by brakes, lamps & electrical, tyres, other. 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

Brakes33.8% 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.

Lamps & electrical23.6% 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.

Tyres18.2% 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.

Other12.8% of failures

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

Steering6.8% 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.

Exhaust & emissions6.8% 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.

Failure rate by year

How the MOT failure rate varies by the car's year of first registration (older examples generally fail more as wear sets in).

201116.3% fail · 246 tests
201218.5% fail · 292 tests
201320.9% fail · 253 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. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the brakes failure: Sym Aw12w Fiddle brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Sym Aw12w Fiddle brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Sym Aw12w Fiddle brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Sym Aw12w Fiddle headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Sym Aw12w Fiddle headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Sym Aw12w Fiddle headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Sym Aw12w Fiddle tyresSearch Amazon for Sym Aw12w Fiddle tyresaffiliate searchFind Sym Aw12w Fiddle tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Sym Aw12w Fiddle steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Sym Aw12w Fiddle steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Sym Aw12w Fiddle steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Sym Aw12w Fiddle exhaustSearch Amazon for Sym Aw12w Fiddle exhaustaffiliate searchFind Sym Aw12w Fiddle exhaust on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Sym Jet MOT failures21.6% failure rateSym Symply MOT failures20.1% failure rateSym Fiddle MOT failures19.2% 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