At a Glance
Austin has 114 identified common problems across 35 models, with the Mini being the most affected model and suspension the most common problem category. Based on 314K MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we identify common car problems →
Below: per-model breakdowns of Austin common problems, MOT failure rates by category, pass-rate data, and repair patterns drawn from 314K DVSA MOT tests across 20 years. Click any model to see generation-specific issues, mileage-banded fault patterns, and the most common MOT failures recorded by UK testers.
MOT Tests & Failures by Model
Top Austin models by MOT tests, failures, and identified problems from DVSA data
Hover over each bar for a full breakdown. Tap any bar to view that model's problems.
Showing total MOT tests, failures, and known problems per make. Hover over each bar for a full breakdown.
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Austin Common Problems by Model
Select a model to see problems by generation
Showing top 9 by MOT test volume — search to find any of 35 Austin models.
Mini
Most common: Suspension
Metro
Most common: Suspension
Seven
Most common: Brakes
Healey
Most common: Suspension
Maestro
Most common: Suspension
A35
Most common: Brakes
A40
Most common: Suspension
Cambridge
Most common: Suspension
Allegro
Most common: Suspension
Most Common Austin MOT Failures
Every reason Austin vehicles fail their MOT, ranked by frequency. Select an individual year to see only that year’s failures, or stay on ‘All time’ for the combined picture across our 20 years of DVSA data. Scroll inside the table for the full list.
| # | Failure | % of failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake performance below minimum | 8.89% |
| 2 | Tyre tread depth below limit | 7.15% |
| 3 | Front lamp not working | 5.03% |
| 4 | Suspension joint or bush worn | 4.72% |
| 5 | Exhaust system fault | 4.51% |
| 6 | Headlamp aim defect | 4.09% |
| 7 | Stop lamp not working | 3.84% |
| 8 | Windscreen washer not working | 3.76% |
| 9 | Driveshaft fault | 3.65% |
| 10 | Number plate lamp not working | 3.49% |
| 11 | Wiper blades deteriorated | 3.44% |
| 12 | Brake hydraulic component worn | 3.41% |
| 13 | Suspension mounting corroded | 2.35% |
| 14 | Tyre condition | 2.01% |
| 15 | Track rod end worn | 1.97% |
| 16 | Chassis condition | 1.90% |
| 17 | Front suspension fault | 1.86% |
| 18 | Body corrosion or damage | 1.65% |
| 19 | Indicator fault | 1.62% |
| 20 | Horn not working | 1.61% |
| 21 | Position lamp not working | 1.60% |
| 22 | Shock absorber worn or leaking | 1.45% |
| 23 | Front suspension joint worn | 1.31% |
| 24 | Steering rack fault | 1.25% |
| 25 | Parking brake performance below minimum | 1.15% |
| 26 | Rear lamp not working | 0.99% |
| 27 | Rear suspension fault | 0.92% |
| 28 | Brake disc or drum worn | 0.86% |
| 29 | Brake pads or linings worn | 0.82% |
| 30 | Wheel bearing worn | 0.81% |
| 31 | Fog lamp not working | 0.79% |
| 32 | Parking brake condition | 0.73% |
| 33 | Spring mounting corroded | 0.67% |
| 34 | Subframe mounting corroded | 0.66% |
| 35 | Subframe corrosion or damage | 0.65% |
| 36 | Brake pedal fault | 0.57% |
| 37 | Exhaust emissions above threshold (non-catalyst) | 0.55% |
| 38 | Brake fluid leak | 0.49% |
| 39 | Electrical switch fault | 0.48% |
| 40 | Battery loose or leaking | 0.47% |
| 41 | Seat belt condition | 0.46% |
| 42 | Windscreen damage affecting view | 0.46% |
| 43 | Headlamp fault | 0.39% |
| 44 | Tyre size or type not matched | 0.37% |
| 45 | Steering free play excessive | 0.36% |
| 46 | Fuel cap damaged or missing | 0.34% |
| 47 | Brake pedal movement restricted | 0.34% |
| 48 | King pin or swivel pin worn | 0.33% |
| 49 | Mirror damaged or missing | 0.32% |
| 50 | Ball joint dust cover split | 0.31% |
| 51 | Fuel pipe corroded or damaged | 0.30% |
| 52 | Steering column fault | 0.27% |
| 53 | Handbrake cable fault | 0.27% |
| 54 | Rigid brake pipe corroded or damaged | 0.25% |
| 55 | Dashboard warning lamp fault | 0.23% |
| 56 | Spark ignition emissions above threshold | 0.23% |
| 57 | Fuel tank corroded or leaking | 0.22% |
| 58 | Steering lock fault | 0.22% |
| 59 | Steering operation fault | 0.21% |
| 60 | Rear fog lamp not working | 0.20% |
| 61 | Suspension arm worn or corroded | 0.19% |
| 62 | Vehicle structure corrosion | 0.19% |
| 63 | Brake wheel cylinder fault | 0.19% |
| 64 | Steering wheel damaged or insecure | 0.18% |
| 65 | Electrical wiring fault | 0.18% |
| 66 | Brake caliper fault | 0.18% |
| 67 | Suspension retaining or locking device fault | 0.18% |
| 68 | Suspension unit fault | 0.18% |
| 69 | Drag link end worn | 0.17% |
| 70 | Fuel hose damaged or leaking | 0.17% |
| 71 | Steering arm worn | 0.16% |
| 72 | Steering box fault | 0.15% |
| 73 | Rear reflector damaged or missing | 0.14% |
| 74 | Brake master cylinder or servo mounting fault | 0.14% |
| 75 | Tyre valve stem damaged | 0.14% |
| 76 | CV joint worn | 0.13% |
| 77 | Engine oil leak | 0.13% |
| 78 | Handbrake mechanism or mounting fault | 0.12% |
| 79 | Bonnet catch or hinge fault | 0.12% |
| 80 | Brake cable, rod, lever or linkage fault | 0.11% |
| 81 | Flexible brake hose damaged | 0.11% |
| 82 | MacPherson strut worn | 0.10% |
| 83 | Semaphore indicator fault | 0.10% |
| 84 | Suspension linkage fault | 0.09% |
| 85 | Steering coupling worn | 0.09% |
| 86 | Tie bar or rod worn or corroded | 0.09% |
| 87 | Brake back plate corroded or damaged | 0.09% |
| 88 | Body security fault | 0.09% |
| 89 | Catalytic converter efficiency low | 0.08% |
| 90 | Bonded suspension condition | 0.08% |
| 91 | Brake clevis joint worn | 0.08% |
| 92 | Speedometer fault | 0.07% |
| 93 | Leaf spring broken or corroded | 0.07% |
| 94 | Engine mounting worn or broken | 0.07% |
| 95 | Hydraulic brake cylinder fault | 0.06% |
| 96 | Brake lever fault | 0.06% |
| 97 | Steering shaft fault | 0.06% |
| 98 | Front passenger door fault | 0.05% |
| 99 | Driver door fault | 0.05% |
| 100 | Boot lid damaged or insecure | 0.05% |
| 101 | Driver seat fault | 0.05% |
| 102 | Brake air or vacuum system fault | 0.05% |
| 103 | Brake linkage mounting fault | 0.04% |
| 104 | Propshaft fault | 0.04% |
| 105 | Hydraulic suspension accumulator fault | 0.03% |
| 106 | Radius arm worn or corroded | 0.03% |
| 107 | Securing bolts missing or insecure | 0.03% |
| 108 | Anchor bracket corroded | 0.03% |
| 109 | Coil spring broken or corroded | 0.03% |
| 110 | Vehicle floor corroded | 0.03% |
| 111 | Compression ignition emissions above threshold | 0.03% |
| 112 | Dip switch fault | 0.03% |
| 113 | Passenger seat fault | 0.03% |
| 114 | Steering intermediate drop arm worn | 0.03% |
| 115 | Brake fluid level low or contaminated | 0.03% |
| 116 | Bumper damaged or insecure | 0.02% |
| 117 | Exhaust leak | 0.02% |
| 118 | Handbrake lever fault | 0.02% |
| 119 | Leaf spring shackle bracket corroded | 0.02% |
| 120 | Indicator warning light fault | 0.02% |
| 121 | Anti-roll bar worn or corroded | 0.02% |
| 122 | Spare wheel fault | 0.02% |
| 123 | Brake fluid reservoir fault | 0.02% |
| 124 | Brake valve fault | 0.02% |
| 125 | Rear fog lamp warning light fault | 0.02% |
| 126 | Brake master cylinder fault | 0.02% |
| 127 | Brake pedal linkage fault | 0.02% |
| 128 | Suspension rod worn or corroded | 0.01% |
| 129 | Trailing arm worn or corroded | 0.01% |
| 130 | Towbar fault | 0.01% |
| 131 | Suspension coupling worn | 0.01% |
| 132 | Tailgate damaged or insecure | 0.01% |
| 133 | Brake stationary pin worn | 0.01% |
| 134 | Hazard warning light fault | 0.01% |
| 135 | Access panel damaged or insecure | 0.01% |
| 136 | Brake fluid warning light on | 0.01% |
| 137 | Torque or reaction arm worn | 0.01% |
| 138 | Brake relay lever fault | 0.01% |
| 139 | Brake servo fault | 0.01% |
| 140 | Leaf spring eye worn or broken | 0.01% |
| 141 | Power steering pipe or hose leaking | 0.01% |
| 142 | Power steering ram fault | 0.01% |
| 143 | Stub axle worn | <0.01% |
| 144 | Power steering pump fault | <0.01% |
| 145 | Steering lock stop fault | <0.01% |
| 146 | Transmission oil leak | <0.01% |
| 147 | Axle beam corroded or cracked | <0.01% |
| 148 | Body strengthening plate corroded | <0.01% |
| 149 | Brake pressure or vacuum buildup insufficient | <0.01% |
| 150 | Mirror or camera fault | <0.01% |
| 151 | Torsion bar worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 152 | Wheel hub fault | <0.01% |
| 153 | Hydraulic fluid leak | <0.01% |
| 154 | Additional braking device fault | <0.01% |
| 155 | Hand-operated brake valve condition | <0.01% |
| 156 | Load sensing valve fault | <0.01% |
| 157 | Seat belt anchorage fault | <0.01% |
| 158 | Spring saddle corroded | <0.01% |
| 159 | Airbag warning light on | <0.01% |
| 160 | Main beam warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 161 | Steering damper fault | <0.01% |
| 162 | Universal joint worn | <0.01% |
| 163 | Air suspension levelling valve fault | <0.01% |
| 164 | Leaf spring slipper worn | <0.01% |
| 165 | Steering drive system fault | <0.01% |
| 166 | Suspension air bellows damaged | <0.01% |
| 167 | Axle corroded or damaged | <0.01% |
| 168 | Brake slack adjuster fault | <0.01% |
| 169 | Exhaust heat shield or sound insulation damaged | <0.01% |
| 170 | Speed limiter fault | <0.01% |
| 171 | Daytime running lamp not working | <0.01% |
| 172 | Full power hydraulic brake fault | <0.01% |
| 173 | Halfshaft fault | <0.01% |
| 174 | Headlamp levelling device fault | <0.01% |
| 175 | Loading door damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 176 | Panhard rod worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 177 | Undertray damaged or missing | <0.01% |
| 178 | Window damaged or won't operate | <0.01% |
Showing all 178 reasons — scroll inside the table for the full list.
Austin MOT Failures by Category
Total MOT failure occurrences for Austin, grouped by category. Same data as the failures table above — just sliced by category instead of fault title. Hover a slice for the top failures in each category.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Austin problems?
Based on analysis of 314K Austin MOT tests from DVSA data, Austin has 114 identified common problems across 35 models. The Austin Mini has the most recorded problems. Suspension issues are the most common category.
Which Austin model has the most problems?
By total identified common problems, the Austin Mini has the highest count with 87 problems. This is partly because it is one of the more popular Austin models on UK roads. See the models grid for a full breakdown.
How is this data calculated?
We analyse anonymised DVSA MOT test records under the Open Government Licence. An issue is classified as a "Common Problem" when it occurs significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read the full methodology page for details.
Can I report a problem with my Austin?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Austin owners spot problems early. We review all submissions before they are published.
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