2007 Proton Savvy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Proton Savvy passed 65.3% of its 1,066 recorded MOT tests. That is 8.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.5%) and brakes (17.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 150 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 44.4% versus 24.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.6% in 2021 to 33.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 208 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 183 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.3% | 163 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 98 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 98 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.5% | 80 |
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 | 150 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 122 |
| 3 | Wipers | 72 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 69 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 60 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 60 |
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 | 38.8% | 414 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.5% | 400 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.7% | 263 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 128 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.9% | 116 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 111 |
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 | 144 | 24.3% |
| 30-60k | 509 | 35.8% |
| 60-90k | 331 | 35.6% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 44.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 382 | 35.6% |
| 2022 | 276 | 35.5% |
| 2023 | 196 | 33.7% |
| 2024 | 120 | 32.5% |
| 2025 | 92 | 33.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Savvy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.2% 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 (15.3% 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
How many 2007 Proton Savvys pass their MOT?
65.3% of the 1,066 2007 Proton Savvy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Proton Savvy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by brakes (17.2%).
Does the 2007 Savvy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.3% in the 0-30k band to 44.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,066 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.