2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Sce — MOT failures & pass rate
1,912 MOT tests on the 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Sce are in this dataset, and 91.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (8.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.9%) and tyres (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 90 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.9% | 113 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.6% | 68 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 59 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 31 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 90 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 53 |
| 3 | Washers | 52 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 50 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 30 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 11 |
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 | 17.3% | 331 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 182 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.6% | 88 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 64 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 23 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 16 |
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 | 1,461 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 415 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 918 | 6.2% |
| 2025 | 989 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Sandero Essential Sce
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (5.9% 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 (3.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% 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
How many 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Sces pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 1,912 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Sce MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Sce?
Visibility, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by tyres (3.6%).
Does the 2021 Sandero Essential Sce get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,912 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.