Anti-roll bar link joint at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
2.3% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 212,152 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 15 to 19 years old (3.6%) and least common on vehicles 3 to 5 years old (0.4%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 24 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Jeep Compass, the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Citroen C4 Picasso. On the Jeep Compass, 6.3% of failed tests had it, against 0.6% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
A ball joint on an anti-roll bar link that is excessively worn.
The MOT inspection manual lists “A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing excessively worn” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeep Compass2,068 failed tests | 6.3%130 tests | 10.3×all: 0.6% |
| 2 | Volkswagen ID.32,833 failed tests | 2.9%82 tests | 7.0×all: 0.4% |
| 3 | Citroen C4 Picasso1,575 failed tests | 7.9%125 tests | 5.8×all: 1.4% |
| 4 | Fiat Tipo3,630 failed tests | 6.3%228 tests | 5.7×all: 1.1% |
| 5 | Renault Zoe4,932 failed tests | 4.4%215 tests | 5.3×all: 0.8% |
| 6 | Citroen C4 Grand Picasso4,744 failed tests | 6.6%314 tests | 5.0×all: 1.3% |
| 7 | Fiat 500X9,992 failed tests | 6.5%652 tests | 4.5×all: 1.4% |
| 8 | Jeep Renegade7,953 failed tests | 6.0%475 tests | 4.1×all: 1.5% |
| 9 | Renault Captur38,914 failed tests | 5.6%2,173 tests | 3.9×all: 1.4% |
| 10 | Honda FR-V2,269 failed tests | 10.4%237 tests | 2.9×all: 3.5% |
| 11 | Vauxhall Viva8,150 failed tests | 4.1%334 tests | 2.9×all: 1.4% |
| 12 | Renault Grand Scenic5,428 failed tests | 8.3%450 tests | 2.7×all: 3.0% |
| 13 | Mitsubishi Asx7,271 failed tests | 5.7%414 tests | 2.6×all: 2.2% |
| 14 | Renault Megane39,486 failed tests | 7.4%2,921 tests | 2.5×all: 2.9% |
| 15 | Renault Scenic13,028 failed tests | 7.0%918 tests | 2.3×all: 3.0% |
Only models where this defect is one of their 10 most common MOT failures, with at least 50 failed tests, have a figure. So a model that isn't listed can still have it, just less often than its other faults. Vans, pick-ups and taxis are left out, as in our rankings. × is the model's share divided by the share for all vehicles of the same age.
How common it is by car age
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20220.4% of failed tests, against 2.3% for all ages2,801 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20191.2% of failed tests, against 2.3% for all ages24,843 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20152.5% of failed tests, against 2.3% for all ages84,563 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20103.6% of failed tests, against 2.3% for all ages78,900 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20052.6% of failed tests, against 2.3% for all ages21,026 failed tests
Not shown, with fewer than 50 failed tests with this defect: vehicles under 3 years old.
All-vehicle figures cover vehicles first used from 1985 to 2024: 9,185,328 of the 9,193,164 failed initial tests in 2025.
How these figures are counted
These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. A defect found on more than one wheel, lamp or joint at the same test counts once. "Same age" is the defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the model's own failed tests in each year.
An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. These figures show where a defect was recorded, not why, and not what a repair costs. Figures: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. What the MOT checks: MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, GOV.UK, read 1 Nov 2026.
How we choose and rank these defectsOther suspension faults
- Coil spring8.6% of failed tests
- Suspension arm ball joint5.1% of failed tests
- Suspension arm bush4.4% of failed tests
- Shock absorber leak3.1% of failed tests
- Anti-roll bar link cover2.7% of failed tests
- Suspension arm dust cover1.8% of failed tests
- Corroded suspension mount1.8% of failed tests
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.