Know Your MOT
14.0%fail rate

Vespa Vbb common MOT failures and failure rate

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

Based on 207 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 14.0% of MOT tests recorded on the Vespa Vbb 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 24.1% of the Vespa Vbb's failures, followed by brakes, lamps & electrical, steering, 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

Brakes24.1% 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 & electrical20.7% 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.

Steering10.3% 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.

Other6.9% of failures

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

Tyres6.9% 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/wipers3.4% 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. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the brakes failure: Vespa Vbb brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Vespa Vbb brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Vespa Vbb brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Vespa Vbb headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Vespa Vbb headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Vespa Vbb headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Vespa Vbb steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Vespa Vbb steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Vespa Vbb steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Vespa Vbb tyresSearch Amazon for Vespa Vbb tyresaffiliate searchFind Vespa Vbb tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Vespa Vbb wiper bladesSearch Amazon for Vespa Vbb wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind Vespa Vbb wiper blades on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Vespa Douglas MOT failures15.4% failure rateVespa Px125 MOT failures19.3% failure rateVespa T5 MOT failures15.6% 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