2012 Great Wall Steed Td — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Great Wall Steed Td passed 69.3% of its 985 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.0%) and brakes (17.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and ball joint — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 128 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.5% in the 30-60k band and 36.0% in the 120-150k band, a 11.5-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 35.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 197 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 176 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.5% | 143 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 132 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 84 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.4% | 33 |
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 | 128 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 123 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 94 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 71 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 66 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 61 |
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 | 41.7% | 411 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.4% | 359 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.6% | 252 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 199 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.4% | 191 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 127 |
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 | 155 | 24.5% |
| 60-90k | 411 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 298 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 86 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 245 | 30.6% |
| 2022 | 234 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 200 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 167 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 139 | 35.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Steed Td
On a 2012 Steed Td, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.9% 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 (14.5% 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
How many 2012 Great Wall Steed Tds pass their MOT?
69.3% of the 985 2012 Great Wall Steed Td MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Great Wall Steed Td?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests, followed by brakes (17.9%).
Does the 2012 Steed Td get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.5% in the 30-60k band to 36.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 985 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.