2018 Coleman Milne Norwood — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Coleman Milne Norwood passed 82.4% of its 392 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 11.1% of the time, so this is 6.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.9%) and suspension (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 31 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 27 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.9% | 27 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 17 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.5% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 25 |
| 3 | Wipers | 20 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 7 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 6 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.8% | 113 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.0% | 59 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 22 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 9 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 8 |
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 | 202 | 15.3% |
| 30-60k | 171 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 14.5% |
| 2022 | 83 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 74 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 78 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 81 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Norwood
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.9% 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.
- Tyres (6.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2018 Coleman Milne Norwoods pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 392 2018 Coleman Milne Norwood MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Coleman Milne Norwood?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by suspension (6.9%).
Does the 2018 Norwood get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 392 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.