2021 Dacia Sandero — MOT failures & pass rate
1,849 MOT tests on the 2021 Dacia Sandero are in this dataset, and 90.5% of them passed. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 7.6%. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (8.2%) and lighting & signalling (6.7%) 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 141 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Sandero fails 8.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.1% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 8.2% | 151 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 123 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 36 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.8% | 33 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 141 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 94 |
| 3 | Washers | 51 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 31 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 28 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 20 |
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 | 17.6% | 325 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 234 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 97 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 65 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 15 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 13 |
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 | 1,354 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 446 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 33 | 9.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,788 | 9.4% |
| Diesel | 58 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 142 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 856 | 8.5% |
| 2025 | 843 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Sandero
On a 2021 Sandero, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (8.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 Sanderos pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 1,849 2021 Dacia Sandero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Dacia Sandero?
Visibility, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.7%).
Does the 2021 Sandero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,849 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.