LDV V80 MOT pass rate & common failures
1,180 MOT tests on the LDV V80 (2016–2023) give it an 81.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (11.1% fail rate), the V80 comes out 7.5pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.6%) and brakes (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), malfunction indicator lamp and registration plate lamp(s) — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 56 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.6% once past 120-150k — 4.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.6% in 2021 to 16.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every V80 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 262 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 247 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Brakes |
| 2018 | 210 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 203 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 158 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 69 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Emissions & environmental |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 149 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 127 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.1% | 72 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 50 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 44 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 44 |
| 7 | Suspension | 2.4% | 28 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 56 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 48 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 48 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 46 |
| 5 | Anti-lock braking system | 42 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 41 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 8 | Washers | 38 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.1% | 237 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.8% | 163 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 87 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 83 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 65 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.6% | 54 |
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 | 280 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 263 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 394 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 175 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 973 | 21.9% |
| Electric | 207 | 2.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 187 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 234 | 20.1% |
| 2023 | 283 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 253 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 223 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a LDV V80
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.8% 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.
- Visibility (6.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the LDV V80?
81.4% of the 1,180 LDV V80 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.6% fail rate, across model years 2016–2023.
What does the LDV V80 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, then brakes (10.8%).
How much does mileage affect V80 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.6% for 120-150k, a 13.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,180 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.