Suspension arm bush at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
4.4% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 404,968 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 10 to 14 years old (5.2%) and least common on vehicles 3 to 5 years old (1.2%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 96 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Fiat 500E, the Tesla Model Y and the Tesla Model 3. On the Fiat 500E, 30.3% of failed tests had it, against 0.9% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
A pin or bush on a suspension arm that is excessively worn. Rubber bushes fail only when the bonding or flexible material has seriously deteriorated.
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 | Fiat 500E1,183 failed tests | 30.3%359 tests | 33.4×all: 0.9% |
| 2 | Tesla Model Y5,417 failed tests | 4.6%249 tests | 6.3×all: 0.7% |
| 3 | Tesla Model 313,522 failed tests | 6.9%938 tests | 5.2×all: 1.3% |
| 4 | Skoda Kodiaq5,615 failed tests | 10.8%606 tests | 5.2×all: 2.1% |
| 5 | Kia XCeed2,909 failed tests | 5.8%168 tests | 4.9×all: 1.2% |
| 6 | SEAT Alhambra5,451 failed tests | 18.9%1,031 tests | 4.4×all: 4.3% |
| 7 | SEAT Tarraco1,170 failed tests | 7.3%85 tests | 4.1×all: 1.8% |
| 8 | Volkswagen Sharan6,764 failed tests | 16.4%1,109 tests | 4.0×all: 4.1% |
| 9 | Skoda Rapid5,761 failed tests | 17.7%1,022 tests | 3.9×all: 4.6% |
| 10 | Audi A155,754 failed tests | 14.4%8,003 tests | 3.3×all: 4.3% |
| 11 | Fiat 500107,211 failed tests | 15.3%16,394 tests | 3.3×all: 4.6% |
| 12 | Volkswagen Tiguan46,607 failed tests | 11.9%5,548 tests | 3.0×all: 3.9% |
| 13 | BMW X119,665 failed tests | 11.8%2,328 tests | 2.9×all: 4.1% |
| 14 | Fiat 500C7,498 failed tests | 14.8%1,108 tests | 2.9×all: 5.1% |
| 15 | Skoda Fabia67,150 failed tests | 12.6%8,469 tests | 2.8×all: 4.6% |
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 20241.3% of failed tests, against 4.4% for all ages144 failed tests
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20221.2% of failed tests, against 4.4% for all ages8,376 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20193.4% of failed tests, against 4.4% for all ages72,207 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20155.2% of failed tests, against 4.4% for all ages175,055 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20105.2% of failed tests, against 4.4% for all ages114,280 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20054.3% of failed tests, against 4.4% for all ages34,906 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 suspension faults
- Coil spring8.6% of failed tests
- Suspension arm ball joint5.1% 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.