2017 Microcar M — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Microcar M passed 81.8% of its 274 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (12.6% fail rate), the 2017 M comes out 5.6pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.4%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — service brake performance alone was recorded 18 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 20.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.9% in 2021 to 15.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.4% | 23 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 20 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 15 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 11 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.6% | 10 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 6 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 7 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 7 |
| 6 | Hydraulic brake callipers | 6 |
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 | 20.4% | 56 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.2% | 47 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 37 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.1% | 25 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.6% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 16 |
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 | 259 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 57 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 54 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 55 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 52 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 M
On a 2017 M, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (8.4% 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 (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2017 Microcar Ms pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 274 2017 Microcar M MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Microcar M?
Brakes, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Methodology & source. Based on 274 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.