Daewoo Lanos MOT pass rate & common failures
The Daewoo Lanos appears in 1,694 MOT tests spanning model years 1997–2018, and 72.0% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.7%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 11.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rigid brake pipes and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 116 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.9% in the 0-30k band and 30.8% in the 120-150k band, a 11.9-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Lanos model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 39 | 61.5% | 38.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 276 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 353 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 484 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 244 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 250 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 40 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 256 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 188 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 173 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.2% | 139 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 94 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 87 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 80 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.4% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 116 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 111 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 106 |
| 4 | Washers | 92 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 86 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 86 |
| 7 | Catalyst emissions | 74 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 67 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.5% | 619 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.4% | 447 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 416 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 320 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.4% | 294 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 227 |
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 | 127 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 695 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 560 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 249 | 33.7% |
| 120-150k | 52 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 609 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 444 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 296 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 195 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 150 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a Daewoo Lanos
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.1% 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.
- Suspension (10.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Daewoo Lanos?
72.0% of the 1,694 Daewoo Lanos MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.0% fail rate, across model years 1997–2018.
What does the Daewoo Lanos most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, then brakes (11.1%).
How much does mileage affect Lanos MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.8% for 120-150k, a 11.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,694 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.