The picture
Plus 8: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 872 MOT tests, the Plus 8 returns 86.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a torn steering gaiter. A missing steering gaiter and a torn steering gaiter round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 34,287, 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
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
11 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 02
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
11 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 03
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
11 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 04
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
11 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 05
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
11 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 06
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.
8 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 07
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
8 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 08
Emissions levels exceed default limits
8 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 09
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
7 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 10
Audible warning inoperative
7 occurrences · 0.8% 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
£240–£720
If every one of this Plus 8'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 →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Buying or keeping a Plus 8?
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 8 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.