Corroded suspension mount at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
1.8% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 165,634 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 20 years old and over (7.9%) and least common on vehicles 6 to 9 years old (0.0%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 22 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Toyota Aygo and the Honda FR-V. On the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, 6.2% of failed tests had it, against 0.8% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
Corrosion within 30cm of a spring, sub-frame or suspension mounting that significantly reduces the strength of the structure around it.
The MOT inspection manual lists “The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a ’prescribed area’) is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alfa Romeo Giulietta8,068 failed tests | 6.2%504 tests | 8.0×all: 0.8% |
| 2 | Toyota Aygo64,487 failed tests | 6.6%4,258 tests | 4.2×all: 1.6% |
| 3 | Honda FR-V2,269 failed tests | 15.7%357 tests | 3.5×all: 4.4% |
| 4 | Peugeot 10741,526 failed tests | 8.2%3,418 tests | 3.2×all: 2.5% |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Shogun4,517 failed tests | 10.2%461 tests | 3.2×all: 3.2% |
| 6 | Jaguar X-Type7,652 failed tests | 14.9%1,142 tests | 2.8×all: 5.3% |
| 7 | Honda Insight2,503 failed tests | 5.5%138 tests | 2.7×all: 2.1% |
| 8 | Citroen C23,279 failed tests | 12.2%400 tests | 2.7×all: 4.6% |
| 9 | Suzuki Grand Vitara6,152 failed tests | 11.0%677 tests | 2.6×all: 4.3% |
| 10 | Subaru Impreza2,185 failed tests | 15.1%330 tests | 2.5×all: 6.0% |
| 11 | Volkswagen Beetle14,725 failed tests | 7.9%1,159 tests | 2.4×all: 3.3% |
| 12 | Chevrolet Matiz2,985 failed tests | 7.9%235 tests | 2.0×all: 3.8% |
| 13 | Honda Jazz86,912 failed tests | 5.9%5,127 tests | 1.9×all: 3.1% |
| 14 | Mazda MX-521,476 failed tests | 8.4%1,798 tests | 1.6×all: 5.2% |
| 15 | Mitsubishi Colt8,549 failed tests | 5.9%502 tests | 1.6×all: 3.8% |
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
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 2019<0.1% of failed tests, against 1.8% for all ages433 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20150.6% of failed tests, against 1.8% for all ages19,646 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20103.7% of failed tests, against 1.8% for all ages80,935 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20057.9% of failed tests, against 1.8% for all ages64,611 failed tests
Not shown, with fewer than 50 failed tests with this defect: vehicles under 3 years old and vehicles 3 to 5 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
- Anti-roll bar link joint2.3% of failed tests
- Suspension arm dust cover1.8% of failed tests
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.