Isuzu D Max MOT pass rate & common failures
160,540 MOT tests on the Isuzu D Max (2002–2023) give it an 81.6% pass rate. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (17.1% fail rate), the D Max comes out 1.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst D Max years
Ranked across D Max years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 85.7% of 2020 examples pass against 76.3% of 2013 ones.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.3%) and suspension (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, rear fog lamp and position lamp — shock absorbers alone was recorded 9,146 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.3% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every D Max model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 62 | 64.5% | 35.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 63 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Brakes |
| 2009 | 56 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 402 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 3,518 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 25,231 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 28,975 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 26,808 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 26,233 | 82.6% | 17.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 22,949 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 17,309 | 85.2% | 14.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 8,123 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 668 | 85.5% | 14.5% | Suspension |
| 2022 | 73 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 16,577 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.8% | 12,496 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 10,820 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 6,822 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 6,190 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 4,642 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 3,749 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 1,273 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 9,146 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 6,334 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5,896 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5,530 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,008 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 4,272 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 3,824 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 3,644 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.9% | 41,641 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.1% | 32,331 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.5% | 28,027 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.6% | 12,144 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 11,899 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 10,234 |
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 | 17,167 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 48,227 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 46,695 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 28,308 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 13,004 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 7,077 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,078 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 31,633 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 33,884 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 34,262 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 33,683 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a Isuzu D Max
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.8% 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.
- Brakes (6.7% 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.
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 Isuzu D Max?
81.6% of the 160,540 Isuzu D Max MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.4% fail rate, across model years 2002–2023.
What does the Isuzu D Max most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, then suspension (7.8%).
Which D Max years are best and worst for MOT results?
2020 has the best pass rate at 85.7% and 2013 the weakest at 76.3%, from 8,123 and 3,518 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect D Max MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.3% for 150k+, a 17.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 160,540 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.