2012 Proton Savvy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Proton Savvy passed 68.7% of its 278 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 10.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (18.7%) and lighting & signalling (18.7%) 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 catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 56 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.3% in the 0-30k band and 40.0% in the 60-90k band, a 21.7-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 33.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 40.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.7% | 52 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 52 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.9% | 22 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 17 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.8% | 16 |
| 6 | Suspension | 5.8% | 16 |
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 | 56 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 23 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 15 |
| 4 | Wipers | 15 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 11 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 11 |
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 | 36.0% | 100 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.7% | 91 |
| 3 | Brakes | 32.0% | 89 |
| 4 | Steering | 14.4% | 40 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.7% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 25 |
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 | 60 | 18.3% |
| 30-60k | 148 | 32.4% |
| 60-90k | 65 | 40.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 65 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 61 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 45 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 35 | 40.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Savvy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 18.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (18.7% 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 (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.9% 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 2012 Proton Savvys pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 278 2012 Proton Savvy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Proton Savvy?
Brakes, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.7%).
Does the 2012 Savvy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.3% in the 0-30k band to 40.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 278 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.