Auto-Trail Motorhome MOT pass rate & common failures
1,122 MOT tests on the Auto-Trail Motorhome (2001–2011) give it a 79.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the Motorhome comes out 6.9pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests against 7.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, wipers and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 76 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.6% once past 60-90k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Motorhome model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 59 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 150 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 195 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 270 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 225 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 121 | 85.1% | 14.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 83 | 85.5% | 14.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 124 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 88 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 71 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 66 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 49 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.0% | 22 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 21 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 76 |
| 2 | Wipers | 61 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 59 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 29 |
| 7 | Washers | 27 |
| 8 | Chassis condition | 25 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 22.5% | 252 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.2% | 215 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 126 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 123 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.4% | 105 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.1% | 46 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 153 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 746 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 204 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 225 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 236 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 228 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 219 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 214 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a Auto-Trail Motorhome
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (6.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Auto-Trail Motorhome?
79.4% of the 1,122 Auto-Trail Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.6% fail rate, across model years 2001–2011.
What does the Auto-Trail Motorhome most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, then brakes (7.8%).
How much does mileage affect Motorhome MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.6% for 60-90k, a 4.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,122 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.