Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2 appears in 6,993 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2024, and 88.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 9.2% of the time, so this is 2.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests against 5.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 484 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.9% in the 0-30k band and 16.7% in the 90-120k band, a 8.7-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2022 against 14.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Duster Essential Tce 4X2 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,203 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 3,514 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 1,928 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 329 | 88.8% | 11.3% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 711 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.6% | 391 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 284 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 179 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 62 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.7% | 51 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 33 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 31 |
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 | 484 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 292 |
| 3 | Wipers | 282 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 175 |
| 5 | Washers | 172 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 98 |
| 7 | Headlamp levelling device | 50 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim not tested | 49 |
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 | 20.1% | 1,405 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 943 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.5% | 527 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 192 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 77 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 37 |
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 | 4,092 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,552 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 309 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 30 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 336 | 7.1% |
| 2023 | 1,478 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 2,351 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 2,825 | 14.5% |
What to check before buying a Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.6% 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.
- Tyres (4.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2?
88.4% of the 6,993 Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.6% fail rate, across model years 2019–2024.
What does the Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, then visibility (5.6%).
How much does mileage affect Duster Essential Tce 4X2 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 16.7% for 90-120k, a 8.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,993 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.