Great Wall Steed Td MOT pass rate & common failures
The Great Wall Steed Td appears in 2,009 MOT tests spanning model years 2011–2013, and 70.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (20.4% fail rate), the Steed Td comes out 9.4pp 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 20.3% of tests against 17.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and ball joint — headlamp aim alone was recorded 255 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.3% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Steed 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 | 985 | 69.3% | 30.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 1,004 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 407 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.1% | 344 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.7% | 255 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 250 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 170 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.0% | 60 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 43 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 40 |
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 | 255 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 241 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 176 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 146 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 117 |
| 6 | Shackle pins and bushes | 116 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 112 |
| 8 | Washers | 110 |
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 | 39.4% | 791 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.4% | 711 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.7% | 456 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 402 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.5% | 371 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 246 |
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 | 45 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 389 | 24.7% |
| 60-90k | 853 | 30.5% |
| 90-120k | 519 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 168 | 32.7% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 513 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 465 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 410 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 345 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 276 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a Great Wall Steed Td
- Lighting & signalling (20.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.1% 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 (12.7% 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 Td?
70.2% of the 2,009 Great Wall Steed Td MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.8% fail rate, across model years 2011–2013.
What does the Great Wall Steed Td most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.3% of tests, then brakes (17.1%).
How much does mileage affect Steed Td MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 34.3% for 150k+, a 21.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,009 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.