Worst or daftest MOT fails

[skyebear]

Had a nosey at the recent history of an old BMW 520d I traded-in back in 2020. I see its new owner(s) have presented it for MOTs with 40% of its wheel bolts missing (2021) and a fractured spring (2022).

[spoodler]

Years back, an m.o.t. tester that I knew called me into the workshop to take a look at the "repairs" to the suspension on a Transit leaf spring... the rear spring eye bolt had been replaced with a big screwdriver, not to worry tho'... they had bent it over to stop it falling out!

[ScoobyChris]

My heap-o-junk Fabia failed one of its MOTs because:

- the driver's seat was not secure (apparently)
- one of the indicators wasn't orange enough (apparently)

Did have a full complement of wheel bolts though

Chris

[Robertb]

I looked at the MOT history of one car I was considering (actually not a shed) and was surprised to note a fail for "Windscreen wipers missing"

[sortedcossie]

Steering wheel not attached is one I've seen.

[Tango13]

Years back I used to know someone that got an advisory on his bike MOT along the lines of...

'Tyre speed rating too high for the slow arsed owner'

The tester knew the owner socially so was taking the piss

[Mercdriver]

Merc CL500 Failed for steering lock not working, none fitted transmission lock only, remove key and gearbox locked in park, dopy MOT tester

[LarJammer]

[bobtail4x4]

my defender almost failed as "the headlights didnt work"

er did you have the ignition on? it has a relay so the headlights cant be left on when parked,

I changed testers after that,

[miniman]

My old 309 failed on ineffective washer jets. I was moderately annoyed as it was January and they were frozen.

[Cledus Snow]

I had a ‘69 Firebird fail as it had lap belts rather than lap and diagonal belts. Hadn’t been a problem at any previous MOT. Same Firebird had a different MOT tester pull the steering wheel off driving it onto the ramp.
My Golf also picked up several advisories for a number plate light not working as it seemed to stop working only while being tested.

[BertBert]

My Defender failed with a sidelight bulb being too bright!

[GravelBen]

I had an old Legacy fail for condensation in its foglights (if it didn't have foglights at all it would have been fine).

I cleaned the dust out of the breather vents on the foglights and took it back for a re-check on a warmer day.

[Mr E]

Oh. Oh. I have one.



The plate I knew about. The legal plate was in the boot.
I didn’t know about the brake. We fixed it.


The door was a surprise.
I rang them back 10 mins later to ask if they realised the car didn’t have central locking.

They didn’t.
They were trying to open a locked door.

[InitialDave]

Series Land Rover, failed for no number plate light.

It doesn't have one, the bottom of the rear lamp has a clear portion to shine light on the plate.

Yes, it's a bit rubbish at doing so, but that's just how it was new.

[Donbot]

Mr E said:

They were trying to open a locked door.

Reminds me of the good old days when people would accidentally lock the keys in the car.

[DickyC]

An elderly friend asked me sell his Alfasud. For several years it had only gone to the MoT testers and back with the test garage fixing anything they thought needed doing. While I was trying to sell it I used it and it was a nice car to drive. Then I put it in for MoT. The garage called asking to me to come in. They showed me under the bonnet: clean, no rust. Then they put it up on the ramp. The suspension turrets were chicken wire, newspaper and filler. I rang the owner, told him it had failed on rust and, as there had been no interest in the car, we should scrap it. He agreed. I didn't tell him about the horrors the garage had discovered.

I could have had a spot of bother throwing it about.

[Latifisnc]

A garage nearly failed one of my bikes for having passenger footpegs but no seat. It was a ratbike and looked like crap, but as he went through the test he found everything spot on except for the pegs. Coz it was obviously much better than it looked I was just told to remove them when I got home.

[Dave.]

I changed the headlights on my mx5 a few years back and took it for a mot the day after.

Failed on headlight, sidelight, and indicator not working one side.

I’d forgot to reconnect the plug

[EricMcN-II]

Dave. said:

I changed the headlights on my mx5 a few years back and took it for a mot the day after.

Failed on headlight, sidelight, and indicator not working one side.

I’d forgot to reconnect the plug

Rookie error that...!