New data identified nearly 10 million MOT fails

New research has found that nearly 10 million vehicles failed MOTs last year.

According to analysis of government figures by motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, 9.9 million of the 43.7 million tests carried out resulted in failure.

Many of the MOT failures were for dangerous or major problems, with 30 vehicles found to have more than 24 such faults. Meanwhile, 31 vehicles failed because of a missing front brake disc, 64 failed for steering wheel locks inadvertently engaging, and 186 failed because the spare wheel was likely to become loose.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: “Vehicles can fail an MOT for more than 600 different reasons. Some of these might well be difficult for owners to spot ahead of time but what’s concerning is that drivers are taking cars for a test with such obvious defects as missing brakes.

“It might be that some people are taking a car to be tested just to check quite how many things will need to be fixed before it will get through, but others look like they are turning up with vehicles displaying faults that are impossible to miss. This should be food for thought for those who suggest we don’t need an annual roadworthiness check.

“What’s really worrying is how many people might be taking a chance by continuing to drive cars with potentially lethal faults just because their next MOT isn’t yet due.”