Carbodies Taxi/Hire CAR

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 1997 2.7 diesel. 16 of 67 tests failed, 24%.

Better than 66% of 1997 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 225 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
• An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
• The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
• A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

Where it stands out against its peers

• Body and structure: failed more often than 98% of 1997 cars — 63% of its 16 failed tests, where an ordinary 1997 car has 29%.
• Lights and electrics: failed more often than 90% of 1997 cars — 56% of its 16 failed tests, where an ordinary 1997 car has 37%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• Brakes — 38% of its failures
• Suspension — 31% of its failures
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• Steering — 25% of its failures
• Lights and electrics — 56% of its failures
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
  • An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Body and structure — 63% of its failures
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
  • Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
• Visibility — 25% of its failures
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen