2018 Dacia Duster — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Dacia Duster passed 87.9% of its 48,791 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests against 5.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,475 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.7% versus 7.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.0% of the time against 12.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 4,907 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.6% | 2,737 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.7% | 1,800 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 1,139 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.5% | 715 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 693 |
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 | 3,475 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,332 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,486 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,111 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,037 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 751 |
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 | 22.4% | 10,923 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 6,915 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.3% | 3,544 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,399 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 1,008 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.6% | 782 |
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 | 19,114 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 22,162 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,117 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,087 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 212 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 93 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 31,542 | 12.0% |
| Diesel | 17,239 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,355 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 9,547 | 9.0% |
| 2023 | 9,756 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 9,901 | 14.9% |
| 2025 | 10,232 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Duster
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% 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 (3.7% 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 Dacia Dusters pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 48,791 2018 Dacia Duster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Dacia Duster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by visibility (5.6%).
Does the 2018 Duster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,791 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.