2014 Dacia Sandero — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Dacia Sandero passed 74.7% of its 83,842 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.9 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 19.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.9%) and suspension (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and coil spring — joints alone was recorded 6,758 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.6% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.9pp more often than petrol ones (28.3% vs 23.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 10,806 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.4% | 9,583 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 6,418 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.6% | 6,340 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 4,722 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.4% | 3,721 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 6,758 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 5,309 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 4,343 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 4,166 |
| 5 | Washers | 3,177 |
| 6 | Horn | 3,148 |
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 | 28.1% | 23,569 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 17,960 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.6% | 12,270 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 6,782 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 2,702 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 2,687 |
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 | 7,063 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 31,458 | 22.3% |
| 60-90k | 30,161 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 11,469 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,783 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 890 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 50,834 | 23.4% |
| Diesel | 33,003 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,483 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 16,992 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 17,100 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 16,856 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 16,411 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Sandero
On a 2014 Sandero, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2014 Dacia Sanderos pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 83,842 2014 Dacia Sandero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Dacia Sandero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by suspension (11.4%).
Does the 2014 Sandero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 83,842 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.