The picture
535: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 10,055 MOT tests, the 535 returns 81.9% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. Tyre tread under the limit and a tyre with the cords showing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 113,058, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
402 occurrences · 4.0% of tests
- 02
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
250 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 03
A tyre cords visible or damaged
215 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 04
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
184 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 05
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
139 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 06
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
135 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 07
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
122 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 08
A tyre seriously damaged
105 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 09
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
101 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 10
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
101 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£280–£670
If every one of this 535's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a 535?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 535 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.