The picture
500x: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 38,203 MOT tests, the 500x returns 81.6% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a torn steering gaiter. Tyre tread under the limit and a lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 47,314, 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
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
2,234 occurrences · 5.8% of tests
- 02
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
1,218 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 03
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
1,193 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 04
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
784 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 05
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
631 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 06
A tyre cords visible or damaged
506 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 07
A tyre seriously damaged
504 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 08
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
414 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 09
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
318 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 10
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
296 occurrences · 0.8% 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 500x'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 500x?
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 500x 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.