2017 Dacia Sandero — MOT failures & pass rate
87,270 MOT tests on the 2017 Dacia Sandero are in this dataset, and 84.4% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 13.4% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests against 6.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 6,712 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.1% versus 9.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.0% fail against 17.2% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 87,270 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 8,572 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.3% | 5,502 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 3,627 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.0% | 3,527 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.6% | 3,115 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 1,892 |
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 | 6,712 |
| 2 | Wipers | 3,646 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,843 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 2,058 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,850 |
| 6 | Joints | 1,846 |
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 | 28.6% | 24,945 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.1% | 13,176 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 5,976 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.3% | 3,712 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 3,048 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 2,407 |
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 | 30,545 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 40,790 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 12,962 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,446 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 388 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 133 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 65,198 | 15.0% |
| Diesel | 22,072 | 17.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,758 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 17,016 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 17,534 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 17,793 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 18,169 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Sandero
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.3% 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.
- Suspension (4.2% 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.
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 2017 Dacia Sanderos pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 87,270 2017 Dacia Sandero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Dacia Sandero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by visibility (6.3%).
Does the 2017 Sandero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 87,270 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.