The picture
Plus 4: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,565 MOT tests, the Plus 4 returns 86.7% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a binding brake. A missing steering gaiter and brakes imbalance across an axle such round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 21,798, 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
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
27 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 02
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
23 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 03
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
15 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 04
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
13 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 05
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
12 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 06
Wiper blade defective
11 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 07
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
9 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 08
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
9 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
8 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
Stop lamps all missing or inoperative
7 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
£160–£480
If every one of this Plus 4'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.
Buying or keeping a Plus 4?
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 Plus 4 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.