Daewoo Tacuma MOT pass rate & common failures
663 MOT tests on the Daewoo Tacuma (2000–2012) give it a 68.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the Tacuma comes out 3.6pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.6%) and brakes (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, component mounting prescribed areas and prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 60 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 30.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 34.6% once past 90-120k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.9% in 2021 to 30.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Tacuma model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 52 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 64 | 68.8% | 31.3% | Visibility |
| 2003 | 178 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 335 | 66.9% | 33.1% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 90 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 82 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 76 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 64 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.9% | 59 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 46 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.9% | 39 |
| 8 | Tyres | 5.9% | 39 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 60 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 59 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 47 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 46 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 37 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 8 | Washers | 35 |
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 | 39.8% | 264 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.5% | 229 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 32.9% | 218 |
| 4 | Tyres | 31.7% | 210 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 141 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.3% | 115 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 219 | 30.1% |
| 60-90k | 264 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 133 | 34.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 254 | 33.9% |
| 2022 | 158 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 120 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 81 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 50 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a Daewoo Tacuma
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
- Brakes (12.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Daewoo Tacuma?
68.8% of the 663 Daewoo Tacuma MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 31.2% fail rate, across model years 2000–2012.
What does the Daewoo Tacuma most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests, then brakes (12.4%).
How much does mileage affect Tacuma MOT results?
Fail rates run at 30.1% for cars in the 30-60k band and 34.6% for 90-120k, a 4.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 663 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.