Great Wall Steed S Td MOT pass rate & common failures
The Great Wall Steed S Td appears in 1,542 MOT tests spanning model years 2011–2014, and 70.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (20.3% fail rate), the Steed S Td comes out 8.9pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.2% of tests against 17.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 202 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.7% once past 120-150k — 3.2× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.3% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Steed S Td model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 696 | 70.3% | 29.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 836 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.2% | 343 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 275 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 189 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 183 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.0% | 123 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 45 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.8% | 43 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 35 |
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 | 202 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 187 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 119 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 114 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 88 |
| 6 | Shackle pins and bushes | 83 |
| 7 | Rbt (sp) | 82 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 79 |
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 | 38.6% | 596 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.1% | 526 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.4% | 345 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 292 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.4% | 283 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.5% | 193 |
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 | 31 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 364 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 638 | 31.0% |
| 90-120k | 388 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 114 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 395 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 374 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 318 | 31.1% |
| 2024 | 252 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 203 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a Great Wall Steed S Td
- Lighting & signalling (22.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.8% 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 (12.3% 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 Great Wall Steed S Td?
70.8% of the 1,542 Great Wall Steed S Td MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.3% fail rate, across model years 2011–2014.
What does the Great Wall Steed S Td most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.2% of tests, then brakes (17.8%).
How much does mileage affect Steed S Td MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.7% for 120-150k, a 21.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,542 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.