The picture
Xlh 883: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,624 MOT tests, the Xlh 883 returns 87.3% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a missing rear reflector. A non-conforming number plate and direction indicator lamp missing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 16,658, 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
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
14 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 02
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
12 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 03
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
12 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 04
A lamp missing or inoperative
11 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 05
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
11 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 06
A stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released
7 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 07
Reflector colour or position not in accordance with the requirements
7 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 08
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
7 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 10
Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
6 occurrences · 0.4% 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 2 failures
£23–£70
If every one of this Xlh 883'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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Build your own retest budget.
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.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a Xlh 883?
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 Xlh 883 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.