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MOT fail: suspension ball joint excessively worn

Major defect: the vehicle fails Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn DVSA wording, MOT inspection manual item 5.3.4 (a) (i)

A ball joint lets the suspension arm and the wheel hub move against each other. The tester found one worn enough to move more than the manual allows.

Can it be driven away? Only if its current MOT is still valid and no dangerous problem was listed, and it must still be roadworthy. GOV.UK rule

What happened after the fail

  • Repaired during the test1%
  • Passed a retest within 35 days93%
  • Not passed within 35 days6%

By age

Highest at 15 years old: 2% of MOTs.

By mileage

Highest at 200k miles or more: 3% of MOTs.

Models that fail on this more than other cars their age

  • Mercedes-Benz CLCOther cars its age: 2 in 10010 in 100
  • Nissan PrimastarOther cars its age: 2 in 1008 in 100
  • Nissan Nv200Other cars its age: 1 in 1008 in 100
  • Mazda 5Other cars its age: 2 in 1007 in 100
  • Chevrolet MatizOther cars its age: 2 in 1006 in 100
  • Suzuki CarryOther cars its age: 2 in 1006 in 100
  • Renault EspaceOther cars its age: 2 in 1006 in 100
  • Renault ClioOther cars its age: 2 in 1006 in 100
22 more models
  • Nissan X-TrailOther cars its age: 1 in 1006 in 100
  • Nissan JukeOther cars its age: 1.0 in 1006 in 100
  • Renault ZOEOther cars its age: 0.4 in 1005 in 100
  • Mazda 2Other cars its age: 1 in 1005 in 100
  • Renault Grand ScenicOther cars its age: 2 in 1005 in 100
  • Nissan CabstarOther cars its age: 2 in 1005 in 100
  • Vauxhall VivaroOther cars its age: 1 in 1005 in 100
  • Renault TraficOther cars its age: 1 in 1005 in 100
  • Nissan QashqaiOther cars its age: 1 in 1004 in 100
  • Nissan LeafOther cars its age: 0.6 in 1003 in 100
  • Nissan PulsarOther cars its age: 0.7 in 1003 in 100
  • Renault Trucks MasterOther cars its age: 0.7 in 1002 in 100
  • Renault CapturOther cars its age: 0.7 in 1002 in 100
  • Mercedes-Benz GLCOther cars its age: 0.4 in 1002 in 100
  • Jeep CompassOther cars its age: 0.7 in 1002 in 100
  • Mercedes-Benz EQCOther cars its age: 0.2 in 1002 in 100
  • Austin MINIOther cars its age: 0.5 in 1002 in 100
  • Tesla Model YOther cars its age: 0.1 in 1001 in 100
  • Toyota ProaceOther cars its age: 0.5 in 1001 in 100
  • BMW 330eOther cars its age: 0.2 in 1001 in 100
  • Nissan E-Nv200Other cars its age: 0.3 in 1000.9 in 100
  • Tesla Model 3Other cars its age: 0.2 in 1000.8 in 100
Out of every 100 MOTs on each model. Models with 20,000 or more MOTs, well above other cars their age, highest first.

Counted from DVSA records of 286,058,652 MOTs, 20 May 2018 to 18 October 2026. A test and its retests count as one MOT. About other vehicles, not a prediction for yours: for what to do, ask a garage. Spotted a mistake? Email fuzzyreguk@gmail.com.

Check a car's MOT history

Every test, fail and advisory, free, from the whole registration.