A fractured, weakened, missing or insecure spring, worn ball joints, pins or bushes, leaking or damaged shock absorbers, and damaged or insecure arms, struts and sub-frames.
Testers grade each defect: a major or dangerous defect fails the MOT, a minor one passes but is written on the certificate.
| Defect | Result |
|---|---|
| A spring insecurely attached to chassis or axle | FailsMajor |
| A spring with fixings loose to the extent that relative movement is visible | FailsDangerous |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | FailsMajor |
| A spring main leaf fractured | FailsDangerous |
| A spring missing | FailsMajor |
| A spring missing and directional control affected | FailsDangerous |
| A spring with an unsafe modification | FailsMajor |
| A spring modified so that the suspension is inoperative | FailsDangerous |
| Defect | Result |
|---|---|
| A shock absorber insecurely attached to chassis or axle | FailsMajor |
| A shock absorber missing or likely to become detached | FailsDangerous |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | FailsMajor |
| A shock absorber bush excessively worn | FailsMajor |
| A shock absorber which has negligible damping effect | FailsMajor |
| Defect | Result |
|---|---|
| A suspension component insecurely attached to chassis or axle | FailsMajor |
| A suspension component missing, likely to become detached or directional stability impaired | FailsDangerous |
| A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded | FailsMajor |
| A suspension component fractured or likely to fail | FailsDangerous |
| A suspension component with an unsafe modification | FailsMajor |
| A suspension component modified so that the suspension is inoperative or likely to foul other components | FailsDangerous |
| Defect | Result |
|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing excessively worn | FailsMajor |
| A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing likely to become detached | FailsDangerous |
| A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | PassesMinor |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. | FailsMajor |
| Defect | Result |
|---|---|
| A gas, air or fluid suspension system inoperative | FailsDangerous |
| A gas, air or fluid suspension system component damaged, modified or deteriorated in a way that it would adversely affect the functioning of the system | FailsMajor |
| A gas, air or fluid suspension system component damaged, modified or deteriorated in a way that its function is seriously affected | FailsDangerous |
| An obvious leak from any part of the system | FailsMajor |
| Defect | Result |
|---|---|
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a ’prescribed area’) is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | FailsMajor |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a ’prescribed area’) is so weakened that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected | FailsDangerous |
| Suspension retaining or locking device ineffective or missing | FailsMajor |
From DVSA's MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehicles. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
In 2025, 2,756,281 car MOTs failed on suspension: 8.76%, or about 1 in 11. 5% of those failures were for a dangerous defect. Another 477,884 MOTs recorded it as a minor defect, which passes. Testers also noted it as an advisory on 4,338,225 MOTs: something to keep an eye on that didn't fail the test.
Share of the MOTs that failed on suspension. One MOT can fail for more than one reason.
Share of car MOTs in each mileage band that failed on suspension.
16.72% of MOTs on cars registered in 2005 failed on suspension, against 0.68% for cars registered in 2022.
Models that failed on suspension at least 1.15 times as often as the average car of the same age and mileage, out of 101 with at least 30 MOTs failed on it.
Least often: Kia Niro (0.2×), Jaguar E-Pace (0.2×), Jaguar I-Pace (0.2×), Ford Puma (0.2×), Jaguar F-Pace (0.3×).
Broken springs, worn joints, leaking shocks
In 2025, 2,756,281 car MOTs failed on suspension, about 1 in 11. 5% of those were rated dangerous.
1 in 11car MOTs failed on suspension in 2025
477,884minor defects recorded in 2025, which pass
A fractured, weakened, missing or insecure spring, worn ball joints, pins or bushes, leaking or damaged shock absorbers, and damaged or insecure arms, struts and sub-frames.
In 2025, 2,756,281 car MOTs failed on suspension: 8.76%, or about 1 in 11. 5% of those failures were for a dangerous defect.
Against the average car of the same age and mileage, the Tesla Model Y (2.6 times as often), Vauxhall Mokka (2.4 times as often) and MG ZS (2.1 times as often), going by 2025 MOT results.