Position lamp at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
8.7% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 795,158 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 15 to 19 years old (14.1%) and least common on vehicles under 3 years old (0.9%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 162 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Hyundai i800, the Fiat 500X and the Suzuki Vitara. On the Hyundai i800, 27.5% of failed tests had it, against 3.1% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Position lamp not working”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
A front or rear position lamp (side light) that is missing or doesn't work. Vehicles must have 2 front and 2 rear position lamps.
The MOT inspection manual lists “Lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
The manual also says: “Daytime running lamps (DRLs) or headlamps may function as front position lamps.”
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai i8001,820 failed tests | 27.5%501 tests | 8.8×all: 3.1% |
| 2 | Fiat 500X9,992 failed tests | 22.2%2,222 tests | 5.3×all: 4.2% |
| 3 | Suzuki Vitara10,606 failed tests | 17.1%1,812 tests | 5.2×all: 3.3% |
| 4 | Jeep Renegade7,953 failed tests | 17.9%1,421 tests | 4.2×all: 4.3% |
| 5 | Peugeot Horizon1,964 failed tests | 14.2%278 tests | 3.0×all: 4.8% |
| 6 | DS 311,270 failed tests | 10.8%1,221 tests | 2.6×all: 4.2% |
| 7 | Vauxhall Antara7,306 failed tests | 21.7%1,588 tests | 2.3×all: 9.6% |
| 8 | Toyota Verso7,953 failed tests | 22.5%1,786 tests | 2.3×all: 9.9% |
| 9 | Ford Galaxy18,386 failed tests | 20.9%3,847 tests | 2.2×all: 9.7% |
| 10 | Kia Venga13,418 failed tests | 18.1%2,422 tests | 2.1×all: 8.8% |
| 11 | Ford Kuga64,180 failed tests | 12.8%8,243 tests | 2.1×all: 6.2% |
| 12 | Vauxhall Mokka77,832 failed tests | 9.0%6,971 tests | 1.9×all: 4.7% |
| 13 | Suzuki Swift37,241 failed tests | 17.3%6,448 tests | 1.8×all: 9.5% |
| 14 | Lexus RX6,405 failed tests | 20.2%1,296 tests | 1.8×all: 11.5% |
| 15 | Volvo XC9017,694 failed tests | 15.3%2,713 tests | 1.7×all: 8.9% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz SLK14,782 failed tests | 4.3%629 tests | 11.5% |
| Volkswagen Eos3,325 failed tests | ≤5.3%not in its top 10 | 14.0% |
| Jaguar XJ2,924 failed tests | ≤4.9%not in its top 10 | 12.3% |
| Alfa Romeo Mito6,404 failed tests | ≤4.7%not in its top 10 | 11.2% |
| Mercedes-Benz SL1,282 failed tests | ≤4.9%not in its top 10 | 11.3% |
| BMW Z47,735 failed tests | ≤5.1%not in its top 10 | 11.5% |
| BMW M3884 failed tests | ≤5.6%not in its top 10 | 12.4% |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class90,099 failed tests | ≤4.2%not in its top 10 | 9.0% |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS4,504 failed tests | ≤4.3%not in its top 10 | 9.2% |
| Volkswagen Golf218,214 failed tests | 4.7%10,221 tests | 10.0% |
≤ 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
- Under 3 years, first used 2023 to 20240.9% of failed tests, against 8.7% for all ages102 failed tests
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20221.0% of failed tests, against 8.7% for all ages7,097 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20193.4% of failed tests, against 8.7% for all ages71,020 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20159.3% of failed tests, against 8.7% for all ages310,952 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 201014.1% of failed tests, against 8.7% for all ages311,001 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 200511.6% of failed tests, against 8.7% for all ages94,986 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 lights and electrics faults
- Stop lamp6.6% of failed tests
- Dipped headlamp4.9% of failed tests
- Headlamp beam image4.5% of failed tests
- Headlamp aim too low4.0% of failed tests
- Number plate lamp3.9% of failed tests
- Headlamp aim too high3.0% of failed tests
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.