{"id":338,"date":"2025-07-02T21:34:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T21:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/?p=338"},"modified":"2025-07-02T23:04:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T23:04:54","slug":"the-5-most-common-mot-fails-and-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/the-5-most-common-mot-fails-and-how-to-avoid-them\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Most Common MOT Fails \u2013 And How to Avoid Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Your MOT test is one of those things that creeps up fast\u2014and no one likes the surprise of a fail. But the truth is, many MOT failures are caused by simple issues that are easy to fix beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <strong>Oxbys Autos<\/strong>, we\u2019ve carried out our fair share of pre-mot inspections and we see the same culprits time and again. Here are the top 5 reasons cars fail their MOT \u2013 and what you can do to avoid them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. \ud83d\udca1 Lights and Signalling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why it fails:<\/strong><br>A blown bulb or faulty indicator might not seem like a big deal, but lighting issues are <em>the<\/em> most common reason for MOT failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to avoid it:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check all lights: headlights, brake lights, indicators, number plate light, and reverse lights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask someone to help, or reverse near a window so you can see the reflections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replace any faulty bulbs before the test (they\u2019re cheap and quick to swap).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. \ud83d\udd27 Suspension Issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why it fails:<\/strong><br>Worn-out shock absorbers or broken springs are hard to spot from the driver\u2019s seat but are a major safety issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to avoid it:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Listen for unusual knocks or squeaks over bumps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pay attention to poor handling or the car \u201cbouncing\u201d more than usual.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask us to inspect the suspension during a regular service\u2014we can often catch problems early.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. \ud83d\udeab Brakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why it fails:<\/strong><br>Ineffective or uneven braking is a serious fail\u2014and rightly so. Brake pads, discs, and fluid can wear over time without you noticing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to avoid it:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don\u2019t ignore squealing or grinding sounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the brake pedal feels soft or the car pulls to one side, get it checked immediately.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A brake check is included in our pre-MOT inspections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. \ud83d\udc40 Visibility (Wipers, Washers &amp; Windscreen)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why it fails:<\/strong><br>If your windscreen wipers don\u2019t clear the screen properly, or your washer jets aren\u2019t working, it\u2019s an automatic fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to avoid it:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Replace worn wiper blades\u2014if they\u2019re smearing or squeaking, they\u2019re ready to go.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Top up your screenwash before the test.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check for chips or cracks in the driver\u2019s view; some may need repair or replacement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. \ud83d\udede Tyres<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why it fails:<\/strong><br>Low tread depth, uneven wear, or damage like cuts or bulges can all mean a fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to avoid it:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check tread depth (the legal minimum is 1.6mm, but 3mm is safer).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for any obvious damage or uneven wear.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We offer <strong>free tyre checks<\/strong> at Oxbys\u2014just pop in and we\u2019ll take a look.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2705 Bonus Tip: Book a Pre-MOT Check<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At <strong>Oxbys Autos<\/strong>, we offer <strong>affordable pre-MOT inspections<\/strong> to help you spot any issues before the big day. It can save you time, money, and the hassle of a retest. We can even take your car to our local test centre for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want peace of mind?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>\ud83d\udcde <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/contact\/\">Call us or book online<\/a><\/strong> to get your vehicle MOT-ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Need an MOT soon?<\/strong><br>Book with us today and we\u2019ll make sure your car\u2019s in top shape \u2014 and if anything\u2019s not right, we\u2019ll always give you clear advice and fair prices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your MOT test is one of those things that creeps up fast\u2014and no one likes the surprise of a fail. But the truth is, many MOT failures are caused by simple issues that are easy to fix beforehand. At Oxbys Autos, we\u2019ve carried out our fair share of pre-mot inspections and we see the same&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":343,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mechanical-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=338"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/338\/revisions\/345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxbysautos.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}