Dacia Duster
From 101,948 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Dusters fare better: 2022 models pass at 93% vs 68.4% for 2013.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 2,645 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,645 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,080 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,802 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,701 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 1,533 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 1,399 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 1,305 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 1,187 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 1,087 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,079 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 36.2% of failures are serious: 29.3% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 6.9% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £95.
The warranty question
A 3-year-old Duster passes its MOT 82.5% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 74.4%, a 8.1 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 68.4%. With an average repair bill of £95 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Duster that's past its third birthday.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 81% while Diesel versions pass at 73.7%, a 7 percentage point gap.
Dacia Duster on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 8,943 newly registered in the past year with 1,462 leaving, a net gain of 7,481. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 102,298 | 1,803 | +1,992 | -480 | +1,512 |
| 2025 Q2 | 100,932 | 1,657 | +2,254 | -0 | +2,295 |
| 2025 Q1 | 98,730 | 1,564 | +3,018 | -799 | +2,219 |
| 2024 Q4 | 96,686 | 1,389 | +1,679 | -183 | +1,496 |
| 2024 Q3 | 95,360 | 1,219 | +2,170 | -103 | +2,067 |
| 2024 Q2 | 93,410 | 1,102 | +2,858 | -0 | +3,010 |
| 2024 Q1 | 90,439 | 1,063 | +2,535 | -331 | +2,204 |
| 2023 Q4 | 88,360 | 938 | +1,877 | -480 | +1,397 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duster Comfort Tce 4X2 | Petrol | 11,214 | 15% |
| Duster Laureate Dci 4X2 | Diesel | 9,649 | 13% |
| Duster Prestige Tce 4X2 | Petrol | 8,731 | 11% |
| Duster Journey Tce 4X2 | Petrol | 6,819 | 9% |
| Duster Laureate Dci 4X4 | Diesel | 5,227 | 7% |
| Duster Expression Tce 4X2 | Petrol | 4,336 | 6% |
| Duster Ambiance Dci 4X2 | Diesel | 4,031 | 5% |
| Duster Comfort Sce 4X2 | Petrol | 3,748 | 5% |
| Duster Prestige Sce 4X2 | Petrol | 2,824 | 4% |
| Duster Essential Tce 4X2 | Petrol | 2,733 | 4% |
| Duster Extreme Tce 4X2 | Petrol | 2,329 | 3% |
| Duster Extreme Tce Hev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 2,162 | 3% |
| Duster Prestige Dci 4X2 | Diesel | 2,153 | 3% |
| Duster Journey Tce 4X2 Auto | Petrol | 1,827 | 2% |
| Duster Essential Sce 4X2 | Petrol | 1,627 | 2% |
| Duster Journey Tce Hev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,433 | 2% |
| Duster Prestige Tce 4X2 Auto | Petrol | 1,382 | 2% |
| Duster Ambiance Dci 4X4 | Diesel | 1,381 | 2% |
| Duster Comfort Blue Dci 4X2 | Diesel | 1,355 | 2% |
| Duster Prestige Lpg Tce 4X2 | Gas | 1,224 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 93% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2021 | 86.6% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2020 | 82.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2019 | 79.7% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
6 earlier years
| 2018 | 78.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2017 | 77.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2016 | 74.4% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2015 | 72.2% | audible warning inoperative, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2014 | 70% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2013 | 68.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Dusters tested had between 27,444 and 49,014 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 36,960 median miles, the Duster has 0.062 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Dacia models
Common questions
What is the Dacia Duster MOT pass rate?
The Dacia Duster has a 77% MOT pass rate based on 101,948 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Dacia Duster?
The most common MOT failure on the Dacia Duster is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 2,645 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many Dacia Dusters are on UK roads?
There are 102,298 Dacia Dusters currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,803 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Dacia Duster at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Dacia Duster is 36,960 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 27,444 and 49,014 miles.
Buying a used Duster?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 77% pass rate and an average repair bill of £95 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.