The picture
Ypsilon: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 6,596 MOT tests, the Ypsilon returns 71.4% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a worn shock-absorber bush. A broken or weak spring and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 59,943, 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
A shock absorber bush excessively worn
477 occurrences · 7.2% of tests
- 02
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
475 occurrences · 7.2% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
195 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 04
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
152 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 05
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
125 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 06
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
96 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 07
A tyre seriously damaged
95 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 08
A tyre cords visible or damaged
92 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
90 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 10
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
89 occurrences · 1.3% 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 3 failures
£220–£575
If every one of this Ypsilon'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 Ypsilon?
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 Ypsilon 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.