The picture
V: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 12,403 MOT tests, the V returns 83.2% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. Windscreen damage and a broken or weak spring round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 88,478, 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
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
344 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
339 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 03
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
292 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 04
A tyre cords visible or damaged
279 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 05
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
225 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 06
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
209 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 07
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
177 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 08
A tyre seriously damaged
169 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade defective
165 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 10
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
83 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 4 failures
£220–£475
If every one of this V'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
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a V?
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 V 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.