The picture
Unclassified: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 2,007 MOT tests, the Unclassified returns 82.7% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-functioning shock absorber. A binding brake and a stop-lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 23,951, 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 not functioning or leaking severely
35 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 02
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
23 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 03
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
18 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 04
A stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released
18 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 05
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
14 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 06
Audible warning not working
13 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 07
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
10 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 08
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
10 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
10 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
10 occurrences · 0.5% 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
£16–£70
If every one of this Unclassified'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 Unclassified?
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 Unclassified 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.