Proton Gen 2 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Proton Gen 2 appears in 4,761 MOT tests spanning model years 2004–2013, and 69.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 5.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.4%) and brakes (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 419 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.1% in the 0-30k band and 34.5% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Gen 2 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 92 | 66.3% | 33.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 393 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 576 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 910 | 69.7% | 30.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 817 | 69.8% | 30.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 580 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 664 | 70.6% | 29.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 463 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 240 | 67.1% | 32.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 877 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 764 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 572 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 430 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 308 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 300 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 277 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 130 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 419 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 344 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 285 |
| 4 | Wipers | 250 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 212 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 179 |
| 7 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 177 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 175 |
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 | 34.2% | 1,629 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.2% | 1,532 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.0% | 1,379 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.0% | 1,000 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 712 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 638 |
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 | 334 | 20.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,576 | 27.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,866 | 31.9% |
| 90-120k | 746 | 35.3% |
| 120-150k | 179 | 41.3% |
| 150k+ | 58 | 34.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,564 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 1,181 | 30.3% |
| 2023 | 908 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 666 | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 442 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a Proton Gen 2
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.1% 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.
- Suspension (12.0% 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 Proton Gen 2?
69.4% of the 4,761 Proton Gen 2 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.6% fail rate, across model years 2004–2013.
What does the Proton Gen 2 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, then brakes (16.1%).
How much does mileage affect Gen 2 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 34.5% for 150k+, a 14.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,761 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.