2021 Isuzu D Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 668 MOT tests, the 2021 Isuzu D Max recorded an 85.5% pass rate. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), the 2021 D Max comes out 2.8pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.6%) and lighting & signalling (6.4%) 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 52 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 D Max fails 13.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 14.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.1% in 2021 to 13.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.6% | 44 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 43 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.1% | 21 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 21 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.3% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 12 |
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 | 52 |
| 2 | Wipers | 19 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 13 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
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 | 14.4% | 96 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.8% | 92 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 73 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 33 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 30 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 22 |
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 | 165 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 309 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 132 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 45 | 13.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 311 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 297 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 D Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.1% 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 2021 Isuzu D Maxs pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 668 2021 Isuzu D Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Isuzu D Max?
Suspension, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.4%).
Does the 2021 D Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 668 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.