The picture
900 Series: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 4,237 MOT tests, the 900 Series returns 70.1% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is battery insecure but not likely to fall. Windscreen damage and the strength or continuity of the load bearing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 156,504, 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 battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier
255 occurrences · 6.0% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
234 occurrences · 5.5% of tests
- 03
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
216 occurrences · 5.1% of tests
- 04
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
206 occurrences · 4.9% of tests
- 05
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
160 occurrences · 3.8% of tests
- 06
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
129 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 07
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
114 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
92 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 09
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
85 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 10
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
82 occurrences · 1.9% 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
£128–£315
If every one of this 900 Series'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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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 900 Series?
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 900 Series 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.