2019 Isuzu D Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Isuzu D Max passed 85.2% of its 17,309 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 13.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.8%) and suspension (6.6%) 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 pins and bushes — shock absorbers alone was recorded 1,153 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.6% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 20.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 1,182 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.6% | 1,145 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 784 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 637 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.8% | 479 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 355 |
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 | 1,153 |
| 2 | Wipers | 561 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 447 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 328 |
| 5 | Wheel bearings | 324 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 315 |
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 | 20.7% | 3,577 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.6% | 2,867 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.8% | 2,393 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.0% | 1,039 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 933 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 780 |
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 | 3,994 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 6,950 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,893 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,645 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 576 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 250 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 4,163 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 4,302 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 4,429 | 16.5% |
| 2025 | 4,356 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 D Max
On a 2019 D Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.6% 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 (4.5% 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 2019 Isuzu D Maxs pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 17,309 2019 Isuzu D Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Isuzu D Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by suspension (6.6%).
Does the 2019 D Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,309 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.