2018 Isuzu D Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,949 MOT tests, the 2018 Isuzu D Max recorded an 84.5% pass rate. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail 14.3% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.9%) and suspension (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, wipers and rear fog lamp — shock absorbers alone was recorded 1,322 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.5% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 1,811 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.5% | 1,482 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.3% | 1,221 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 849 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.9% | 665 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 569 |
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 | 1,322 |
| 2 | Wipers | 740 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 615 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 508 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 500 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 482 |
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 | 21.2% | 4,864 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.2% | 3,935 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.5% | 3,563 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.4% | 1,474 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 1,341 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 998 |
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 | 4,474 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 8,845 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,603 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,547 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 974 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 498 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,403 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 4,626 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 4,617 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 4,678 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 4,625 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 D Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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.
- Brakes (5.3% 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
How many 2018 Isuzu D Maxs pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 22,949 2018 Isuzu D Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Isuzu D Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by suspension (6.5%).
Does the 2018 D Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,949 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.