2014 Great Wall Steed — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Great Wall Steed passed 74.1% of its 1,042 recorded MOT tests. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (20.7% fail rate), the 2014 Steed comes out 5.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.9%) and brakes (15.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and ball joint — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 127 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 0-30k band and 40.7% in the 120-150k band, a 27.4-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 187 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 160 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 114 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.7% | 80 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 75 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 40 |
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 | 127 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 101 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 84 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 61 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 60 |
| 6 | Washers | 49 |
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 | 40.7% | 424 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.4% | 358 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.8% | 217 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 163 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 156 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 102 |
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 | 60 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 384 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 342 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 195 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 54 | 40.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 260 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 232 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 209 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 193 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 148 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Steed
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.4% 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.
- Suspension (10.9% 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 2014 Great Wall Steeds pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 1,042 2014 Great Wall Steed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Great Wall Steed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by brakes (15.4%).
Does the 2014 Steed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 40.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,042 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.