The picture
Fz8: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 528 MOT tests, the Fz8 returns 88.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is direction indicator lamp missing. Tyre tread under the limit and a stop-lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 17,610, 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 direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
8 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 02
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
7 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 03
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
6 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 04
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
5 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 05
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
4 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 06
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
4 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 07
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
4 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 08
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
2 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
A direction indicator lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning
2 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 10
A wheel bearing excessively rough
2 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 3 failures
£78–£210
If every one of this Fz8'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
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a Fz8?
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 Fz8 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.