Microcar M MOT pass rate & common failures
The Microcar M appears in 1,685 MOT tests spanning model years 2010–2018, and 83.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 15.0% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (9.0%) and lighting & signalling (6.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and steering rack — service brake performance alone was recorded 112 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 19.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.8% in 2021 to 14.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every M model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 44 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 371 | 78.7% | 21.3% | Brakes |
| 2015 | 338 | 84.0% | 16.0% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 464 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Brakes |
| 2017 | 274 | 81.8% | 18.3% | Brakes |
| 2018 | 186 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.0% | 151 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 105 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.3% | 72 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 68 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.8% | 47 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 47 |
| 7 | Visibility | 2.3% | 38 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.9% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 112 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 54 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 50 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 46 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 41 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 34 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 29 |
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 | 19.5% | 329 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.9% | 319 |
| 3 | Tyres | 9.7% | 163 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 151 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.2% | 87 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 61 |
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 | 1,464 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 215 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 382 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 364 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 335 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 316 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 288 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a Microcar M
- Brakes (9.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.3% 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.
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 Microcar M?
83.2% of the 1,685 Microcar M MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 16.9% fail rate, across model years 2010–2018.
What does the Microcar M most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 9.0% of tests, then lighting & signalling (6.2%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,685 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.