Carbodies Taxi/Hire Car MOT pass rate & common failures
The Carbodies Taxi/Hire Car appears in 1,250 MOT tests spanning model years 1982–1997, and 76.1% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 24.2%, so the Taxi/Hire Car sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests against 12.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 105 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.7% in the 0-30k band and 25.6% in the 150k+ band, a 5.9-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.0% in 2021 to 22.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Taxi/Hire Car model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 45 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Brakes |
| 1991 | 40 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 50 | 64.0% | 36.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 69 | 76.8% | 23.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 100 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 189 | 75.1% | 24.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 307 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 400 | 77.8% | 22.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 257 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 158 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.4% | 117 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 99 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.7% | 96 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.1% | 64 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.4% | 30 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 105 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 95 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 88 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 86 |
| 5 | Washers | 82 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 75 |
| 7 | Wipers | 66 |
| 8 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 64 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.6% | 345 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.3% | 229 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.2% | 215 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 197 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.2% | 178 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.3% | 166 |
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 | 234 | 19.7% |
| 30-60k | 64 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 31 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 821 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 315 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 294 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 234 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 201 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 206 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a Carbodies Taxi/Hire Car
- Lighting & signalling (20.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.6% 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.
- Visibility (9.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Carbodies Taxi/Hire Car?
76.1% of the 1,250 Carbodies Taxi/Hire Car MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.9% fail rate, across model years 1982–1997.
What does the Carbodies Taxi/Hire Car most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests, then brakes (12.6%).
How much does mileage affect Taxi/Hire Car MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.6% for 150k+, a 5.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,250 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.