2017 Hymer B — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Hymer B passed 89.9% of its 346 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 12.6% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.1%) and brakes (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 14 times.
The trend is worsening — 11.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 21 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 14 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 7 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 7 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.3% | 1 |
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 | 14 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 7 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 6 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 5 |
| 6 | Wipers | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 25 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 10 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.6% | 9 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 6 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 4 |
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 | 285 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 59 | 10.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 76 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 66 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 65 | 6.2% |
| 2025 | 67 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 B
On a 2017 B, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 Hymer Bs pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 346 2017 Hymer B MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Hymer B?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by brakes (4.0%).
Does the 2017 B get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 10.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 346 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.