Steering lock Mot failure or not?

[1083 Feedbacks]

Im a bit confused. I hope a mot tester can give me some advice..

I have a 2007 Q7 and the steering lock doesn't work. It's very... Very expensive to fix it (3k) and I'm due mot in 2 months. I'm reading that the steering lock is part of the mot. Not sure why since it's not exactly a safety feature.

My car obviously has a factory immobiliser built into the key.. Etc. Is this sufficient enough to pass mot or will it be a fail?

Thanks

[TooMany2cvs]

Test...
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

Mr MOT said:

REASONS FOR REJECTION
2.1.4
a. A steering lock mechanism inadvertently engaging
b. a steering lock mechanism missing or fails to engage
c. an electronic steering lock system malfunction warning displayed.

So that should be a fail...

but...

Mr MOT said:

It is acceptable for a steering lock to be missing or inoperative provided the vehicle has an engine immobiliser, or permanently installed immobilisation device which acts on either the steering, brakes or the transmission

So as long as it's got an immob (which it will have), you should be good.

It's part of the test, because TPTB don't like cars being nicked.

[1083 Feedbacks]

That's exactly what I read. Which is confusing as 99% of cars on our roads have immobs

[paintman]

They do now, but in the past they didn't (not required as the steering lock wasn't relevant to the MoT) & sales & fitting of aftermarket immobilisers was very lucrative esp for 'hot hatches' which were stolen/TWOC in huge numbers.

However, note that this check applies to:
"The inspection of the steering lock only applies to passenger cars with:
• a steering lock fitted as standard by the manufacturer, and
• four or more wheels, and
• not more than 8 passenger seats excluding the driver’s seat, and
• first used on or after 1 September 2001"

Edited by paintman on Friday 30th March 16:54

[Athlon]

It's part of the test because it can fail ON. Just because it is off now does not mean it will stay that way, it should be a fail immobiliser or not in my opinion.

[Arnold Cunningham]

I had one of my cars fail a while back due to inoperative steering lock. I tried to argue the point, but he wasn’t having any of it, so in the end I just had to fix it.