The picture
E-Type: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,522 MOT tests, the E-Type returns 90.0% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen washers not working. A missing suspension dust cover and a weak handbrake round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 45,269, 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 washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
23 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 02
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
19 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 03
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
17 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 04
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
17 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 05
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
13 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 06
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
12 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 07
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value
11 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 08
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
11 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 09
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
11 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 10
Audible warning inoperative
10 occurrences · 0.7% 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
£170–£560
If every one of this E Type'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 E Type?
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 E Type 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.