Know Your MOT
18.2%fail rate

Yamaha Xmax common MOT failures and failure rate

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

Based on 1,261 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 18.2% of MOT tests recorded on the Yamaha Xmax 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 41.3% of the Yamaha Xmax's failures, followed by brakes, lamps & electrical, tyres, steering. 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

Brakes41.3% 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 & electrical23.0% 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.

Tyres16.5% 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.

Steering10.4% 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.

Suspension8.3% 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.

Other4.3% of failures

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

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).

200612.5% fail · 160 tests
200718.8% fail · 133 tests
200821.1% fail · 270 tests
200912.4% fail · 241 tests
201020.4% fail · 201 tests
201122.0% fail · 168 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: Yamaha Xmax brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Yamaha Xmax brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Yamaha Xmax brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Yamaha Xmax headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Yamaha Xmax headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Yamaha Xmax headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Yamaha Xmax tyresSearch Amazon for Yamaha Xmax tyresaffiliate searchFind Yamaha Xmax tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Yamaha Xmax steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Yamaha Xmax steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Yamaha Xmax steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Yamaha Xmax suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Yamaha Xmax suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Yamaha Xmax suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Yamaha Yzf MOT failures16.6% failure rateYamaha Fzs600 MOT failures15.0% failure rateYamaha Mt MOT failures13.0% 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