2020 Isuzu D Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Isuzu D Max passed 85.7% of its 8,123 recorded MOT tests. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail 12.6% of the time, so this is 1.7pp 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 (7.2%) 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 620 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.3% in the 0-30k band and 25.3% in the 150k+ band, a 17.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 589 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.6% | 538 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.1% | 336 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 308 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.7% | 220 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 143 |
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 | 620 |
| 2 | Wipers | 269 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 209 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 192 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 154 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 149 |
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 | 19.1% | 1,548 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.3% | 1,320 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 984 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 480 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 476 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 305 |
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 | 2,177 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,477 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,639 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 579 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 168 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43 | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 103 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 2,583 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 2,699 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 2,695 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 D Max
On a 2020 D Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% 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 (4.1% 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 2020 Isuzu D Maxs pass their MOT?
85.7% of the 8,123 2020 Isuzu D Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Isuzu D Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by suspension (6.6%).
Does the 2020 D Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,123 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.