Engine warning light at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
5.4% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 494,025 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 6 to 9 years old (6.0%) and least common on vehicles under 3 years old (2.2%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 138 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Jaguar E-Pace, the Hyundai i800 and the Land Rover Range Rover Velar. On the Jaguar E-Pace, 15.4% of failed tests had it, against 5.4% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
The engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) doesn't work, or shows a fault. The tester turns on the ignition and checks that it lights up and then goes off. This applies to petrol cars first used from 1 July 2003 and diesels from 1 July 2008.
The MOT inspection manual lists “Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaguar E-Pace4,068 failed tests | 15.4%627 tests | 2.8×all: 5.4% |
| 2 | Hyundai i8001,820 failed tests | 15.5%283 tests | 2.6×all: 5.9% |
| 3 | Land Rover Range Rover Velar5,778 failed tests | 12.4%716 tests | 2.4×all: 5.1% |
| 4 | Jeep Renegade7,953 failed tests | 13.9%1,106 tests | 2.4×all: 5.9% |
| 5 | Land Rover Discovery Sport22,650 failed tests | 12.6%2,853 tests | 2.3×all: 5.6% |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz S-Class2,067 failed tests | 12.9%266 tests | 2.2×all: 5.8% |
| 7 | Volkswagen Sharan6,764 failed tests | 11.8%800 tests | 2.2×all: 5.4% |
| 8 | Vauxhall Zafira66,828 failed tests | 12.0%8,006 tests | 2.2×all: 5.5% |
| 9 | Jaguar F-Pace8,733 failed tests | 11.6%1,012 tests | 2.1×all: 5.4% |
| 10 | Mercedes-Benz ML6,438 failed tests | 11.7%751 tests | 2.1×all: 5.4% |
| 11 | SEAT Alhambra5,451 failed tests | 11.9%650 tests | 2.1×all: 5.6% |
| 12 | Audi Q519,139 failed tests | 10.8%2,076 tests | 2.1×all: 5.3% |
| 13 | Audi A623,985 failed tests | 11.2%2,697 tests | 2.0×all: 5.5% |
| 14 | Land Rover Range Rover Evoque33,911 failed tests | 10.8%3,677 tests | 2.0×all: 5.3% |
| 15 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class90,099 failed tests | 11.0%9,924 tests | 2.0×all: 5.6% |
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
- Under 3 years, first used 2023 to 20242.2% of failed tests, against 5.4% for all ages236 failed tests
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20223.6% of failed tests, against 5.4% for all ages24,891 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20196.0% of failed tests, against 5.4% for all ages126,170 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20155.2% of failed tests, against 5.4% for all ages173,240 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20105.8% of failed tests, against 5.4% for all ages127,299 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20055.2% of failed tests, against 5.4% for all ages42,189 failed tests
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 noise, emissions, leaks faults
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.