Track rod end dust cover at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
1.4% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 124,395 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 6 to 9 years old (1.8%) and least common on vehicles 3 to 5 years old (0.2%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 15 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Volkswagen T-Cross, the Skoda Scala and the SEAT Arona. On the Volkswagen T-Cross, 9.2% of failed tests had it, against 0.6% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
The dust cover on a track rod end ball joint is damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer keeps dirt out.
The MOT inspection manual lists “Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails. “Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated” is a minor defect, which doesn't fail the test.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen T-Cross3,508 failed tests | 9.2%321 tests | 15.1×all: 0.6% |
| 2 | Skoda Scala1,309 failed tests | 7.4%97 tests | 15.0×all: 0.5% |
| 3 | SEAT Arona8,761 failed tests | 16.9%1,480 tests | 13.3×all: 1.3% |
| 4 | Fiat 500X9,992 failed tests | 19.8%1,975 tests | 10.9×all: 1.8% |
| 5 | Vauxhall Adam20,156 failed tests | 18.3%3,692 tests | 10.2×all: 1.8% |
| 6 | Jeep Renegade7,953 failed tests | 18.2%1,451 tests | 10.0×all: 1.8% |
| 7 | Jaguar S-Type2,495 failed tests | 11.9%297 tests | 9.0×all: 1.3% |
| 8 | Jaguar XJ2,924 failed tests | 9.0%262 tests | 7.0×all: 1.3% |
| 9 | Vauxhall Corsa316,906 failed tests | 9.1%28,680 tests | 6.6×all: 1.4% |
| 10 | Volkswagen Polo204,488 failed tests | 6.7%13,646 tests | 4.9×all: 1.4% |
| 11 | SEAT Ibiza63,541 failed tests | 6.2%3,945 tests | 4.4×all: 1.4% |
| 12 | Fiat 500L7,213 failed tests | 7.1%511 tests | 4.2×all: 1.7% |
| 13 | Vauxhall Mokka77,832 failed tests | 5.6%4,342 tests | 3.2×all: 1.7% |
| 14 | Jaguar F-Pace8,733 failed tests | 3.9%343 tests | 2.8×all: 1.4% |
| 15 | Land Rover Range Rover Velar5,778 failed tests | 3.1%178 tests | 2.4×all: 1.3% |
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
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20220.2% of failed tests, against 1.4% for all ages1,573 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20191.8% of failed tests, against 1.4% for all ages39,078 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20151.4% of failed tests, against 1.4% for all ages47,332 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20101.1% of failed tests, against 1.4% for all ages25,101 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20051.4% of failed tests, against 1.4% for all ages11,295 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 steering faults
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.