The picture
Wr: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 1,749 MOT tests, the Wr returns 78.5% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-functioning shock absorber. A missing rear reflector and a stop-lamp out round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 12,376, 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 shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
48 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 02
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
42 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 03
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
32 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 04
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
31 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 05
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
30 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 06
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
27 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 07
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
26 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 08
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
25 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
A lamp missing or inoperative
21 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 10
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
20 occurrences · 1.1% 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.
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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 WR?
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 WR 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.