2012 Great Wall Steed S Td — MOT failures & pass rate
696 MOT tests on the 2012 Great Wall Steed S Td are in this dataset, and 70.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 8.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.0% of all tests — 6.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 113 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 28.7% in the 30-60k band and 35.7% in the 120-150k band, a 7.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.0% | 160 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 117 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 82 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.2% | 78 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.1% | 56 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.3% | 23 |
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 | 113 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 71 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 60 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 37 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 36 |
| 6 | Wipers | 34 |
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 | 41.9% | 292 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.3% | 239 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.8% | 166 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.0% | 132 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 124 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 93 |
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 | 188 | 28.7% |
| 60-90k | 274 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 160 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 35.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 179 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 174 | 33.3% |
| 2023 | 140 | 30.7% |
| 2024 | 109 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 94 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Steed S Td
On a 2012 Steed S Td, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2012 Great Wall Steed S Tds pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 696 2012 Great Wall Steed S Td MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Great Wall Steed S Td?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.0% of tests, followed by brakes (16.8%).
Does the 2012 Steed S Td get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.7% in the 30-60k band to 35.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 696 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.