2011 Proton Savvy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 572 MOT tests, the 2011 Proton Savvy recorded a 71.3% pass rate. That is 6.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.7% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 95 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.0% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 107 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.9% | 85 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.4% | 48 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 40 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.6% | 38 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 35 |
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 | 95 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 60 |
| 3 | Wipers | 40 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 28 |
| 6 | Wheel bearings | 22 |
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 | 32.3% | 185 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.2% | 150 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.9% | 125 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 45 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 45 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.3% | 42 |
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 | 85 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 305 | 28.5% |
| 60-90k | 146 | 34.9% |
| 90-120k | 31 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 162 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 136 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 120 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 82 | 31.7% |
| 2025 | 72 | 34.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Savvy
On a 2011 Savvy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.9% 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 (8.4% 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
How many 2011 Proton Savvys pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 572 2011 Proton Savvy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Proton Savvy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by brakes (14.9%).
Does the 2011 Savvy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 572 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.