2019 Dacia Duster — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 66,355 MOT tests, the 2019 Dacia Duster recorded an 88.2% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.7% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,503 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.5% versus 7.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.7% of the time against 12.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 7,730 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.1% | 3,387 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.2% | 2,150 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 1,465 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.7% | 1,094 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 524 |
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 | 5,503 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,856 |
| 3 | Wipers | 2,775 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,264 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,218 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 1,033 |
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 | 22.8% | 15,145 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 9,436 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 4,438 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,715 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 1,154 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.3% | 858 |
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 | 31,705 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 28,562 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 5,307 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 631 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 94 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 47 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 57,281 | 11.7% |
| Diesel | 9,070 | 12.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 693 | 5.6% |
| 2022 | 16,082 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 16,101 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 16,358 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 17,121 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Duster
On a 2019 Duster, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.1% 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 (3.2% 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 2019 Dacia Dusters pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 66,355 2019 Dacia Duster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Dacia Duster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by visibility (5.1%).
Does the 2019 Duster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 66,355 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.