Dacia Sandero Essential Sce MOT pass rate & common failures
The Dacia Sandero Essential Sce appears in 2,982 MOT tests spanning model years 2021–2022, and 91.2% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (8.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (6.0%) and tyres (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, washers and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 139 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.4% versus 7.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Sandero Essential Sce model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,912 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Visibility |
| 2022 | 1,070 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.0% | 179 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.9% | 116 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 88 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 46 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 24 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 12 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 3 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 139 |
| 2 | Washers | 86 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 82 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 75 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 43 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 19 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 8 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 10 |
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 | 18.4% | 548 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 283 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 146 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 98 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.6% | 47 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 27 |
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 | 2,319 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 611 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 39 | 15.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 953 | 6.0% |
| 2025 | 2,024 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a Dacia Sandero Essential Sce
- Visibility (6.0% 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 (3.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 Dacia Sandero Essential Sce?
91.2% of the 2,982 Dacia Sandero Essential Sce MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.8% fail rate, across model years 2021–2022.
What does the Dacia Sandero Essential Sce most often fail its MOT on?
Visibility, recorded in 6.0% of tests, then tyres (3.9%).
How much does mileage affect Sandero Essential Sce MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 15.4% for 60-90k, a 8.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,982 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.