Coil spring at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
8.6% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 787,700 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 10 to 14 years old (10.9%) and least common on vehicles 3 to 5 years old (1.6%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 165 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the MG 5, the Suzuki Ignis and the Volkswagen Touareg. On the MG 5, 5.8% of failed tests had it, against 0.9% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Coil spring fractured or broken”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
A suspension spring, or part of one, that is broken or seriously weakened.
The MOT inspection manual lists “A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MG 52,255 failed tests | 5.8%131 tests | 6.3×all: 0.9% |
| 2 | Suzuki Ignis4,096 failed tests | 26.1%1,071 tests | 4.3×all: 6.1% |
| 3 | Volkswagen Touareg7,588 failed tests | 29.5%2,238 tests | 3.3×all: 8.9% |
| 4 | BMW M41,474 failed tests | 23.7%349 tests | 3.3×all: 7.3% |
| 5 | MG ZS10,837 failed tests | 7.8%846 tests | 2.9×all: 2.7% |
| 6 | Volkswagen California811 failed tests | 16.8%136 tests | 2.8×all: 6.0% |
| 7 | Mercedes-Benz V-Class1,876 failed tests | 21.6%405 tests | 2.8×all: 7.8% |
| 8 | Audi Q324,614 failed tests | 24.2%5,959 tests | 2.7×all: 8.9% |
| 9 | Vauxhall Meriva31,109 failed tests | 26.4%8,209 tests | 2.7×all: 9.9% |
| 10 | Renault Modus4,458 failed tests | 21.3%948 tests | 2.5×all: 8.4% |
| 11 | Volvo XC6023,528 failed tests | 22.0%5,173 tests | 2.5×all: 8.9% |
| 12 | Volvo V4026,260 failed tests | 24.0%6,307 tests | 2.5×all: 9.7% |
| 13 | Fiat Tipo3,630 failed tests | 18.2%662 tests | 2.5×all: 7.4% |
| 14 | Mercedes-Benz CLK8,628 failed tests | 17.2%1,483 tests | 2.4×all: 7.0% |
| 15 | DS 311,270 failed tests | 21.9%2,470 tests | 2.4×all: 9.2% |
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.
Models where it was at most half as common
| Car | Share of failed tests | All vehicles, same age |
|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Vitara10,606 failed tests | ≤2.7%not in its top 10 | 7.4% |
| Suzuki Alto14,890 failed tests | ≤4.3%not in its top 10 | 10.8% |
| BMW 4 Series18,389 failed tests | ≤3.3%not in its top 10 | 8.2% |
| Mitsubishi Mirage2,055 failed tests | ≤4.0%not in its top 10 | 9.9% |
| Kia Venga13,418 failed tests | ≤4.2%not in its top 10 | 10.4% |
| Toyota Verso7,953 failed tests | 4.3%343 tests | 10.5% |
| Suzuki Celerio4,653 failed tests | ≤3.8%not in its top 10 | 9.2% |
| Kia Optima1,647 failed tests | ≤3.2%not in its top 10 | 7.7% |
| Hyundai i2036,388 failed tests | ≤4.3%not in its top 10 | 9.6% |
| Lexus NX2,983 failed tests | ≤2.9%not in its top 10 | 6.4% |
≤ means at most: the defect wasn't one of the model's 10 most common, so we only know it had no more failed tests than the model's 10th most common defect, or fewer than 50. Models are listed by these figures against the same-age share, so this is not a ranking of the lowest.
How common it is by car age
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20221.6% of failed tests, against 8.6% for all ages10,674 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20198.0% of failed tests, against 8.6% for all ages168,323 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 201510.9% of failed tests, against 8.6% for all ages366,330 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20109.2% of failed tests, against 8.6% for all ages203,001 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20054.8% of failed tests, against 8.6% for all ages39,340 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
- 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
- Anti-roll bar link joint2.3% 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.