Dacia Sandero
From 136,998 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Sanderos fare better: 2021 models pass at 86.3% vs 69.4% for 2013.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 4,788 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.
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 4,788 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 3,828 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 3,458 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,905 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 2,693 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,614 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 2,512 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,940 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 1,829 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,691 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 29.2% of Sandero failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 32.9% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £117.
The warranty question
A 3-year-old Sandero passes its MOT 82.4% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 72.6%, a 9.8 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 69.4%. With an average repair bill of £117 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Sandero that's past its third birthday.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 75.7% while Diesel versions pass at 69.3%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Dacia Sandero on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 6,956 newly registered in the past year with 2,112 leaving, a net gain of 4,844. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 138,168 | 2,096 | +1,194 | -363 | +831 |
| 2025 Q2 | 137,469 | 1,964 | +1,180 | -428 | +752 |
| 2025 Q1 | 136,868 | 1,813 | +2,355 | -894 | +1,461 |
| 2024 Q4 | 135,664 | 1,556 | +2,227 | -427 | +1,800 |
| 2024 Q3 | 134,103 | 1,317 | +2,566 | -618 | +1,948 |
| 2024 Q2 | 132,247 | 1,225 | +2,102 | -309 | +1,793 |
| 2024 Q1 | 130,513 | 1,166 | +3,481 | -453 | +3,028 |
| 2023 Q4 | 127,578 | 1,073 | +3,515 | -290 | +3,225 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandero Stepway Laureate Tce | Petrol | 13,047 | 11% |
| Sandero Stepway Comfort Tce | Petrol | 10,077 | 9% |
| Sandero Stepway Laureate Dci | Diesel | 9,887 | 9% |
| Sandero Ambiance | Petrol | 9,567 | 8% |
| Sandero Stepway Ambiance Tce | Petrol | 9,079 | 8% |
| Sandero Essential Sce | Petrol | 6,459 | 6% |
| Sandero Stepway Essential Tce | Petrol | 6,362 | 6% |
| Sandero Comfort Tce | Petrol | 5,805 | 5% |
| Sandero Stepway Ambiance Dci | Diesel | 5,478 | 5% |
| Sandero Stepway Extreme Tce | Petrol | 5,452 | 5% |
| Sandero Ambiance Sce | Petrol | 4,985 | 4% |
| Sandero Stepway Expression Tce | Petrol | 4,714 | 4% |
| Sandero Expression Tce | Petrol | 4,473 | 4% |
| Sandero Essential Tce | Petrol | 4,325 | 4% |
| Sandero Stepway Prestige Tce | Petrol | 3,001 | 3% |
| Sandero Laureate Tce | Petrol | 2,957 | 3% |
| Sandero Ambiance Tce | Petrol | 2,829 | 2% |
| Sandero Stepway Extreme Tce A | Petrol | 2,343 | 2% |
| Sandero Laureate Dci | Diesel | 2,105 | 2% |
| Sandero Stepway Journey Tce | Petrol | 1,924 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86.3% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2020 | 82.4% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2019 | 81% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2018 | 78.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
5 earlier years
| 2017 | 75.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2016 | 72.6% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2015 | 69% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2014 | 67.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2013 | 69.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all Sanderos tested had between 50,948 and 82,044 miles on the clock.
At 67,010 median miles, the Sandero has 0.039 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Dacia models
Common questions
What is the Dacia Sandero MOT pass rate?
The Dacia Sandero has a 73.9% MOT pass rate based on 136,998 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Dacia Sandero?
The most common MOT failure on the Dacia Sandero is a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 4,788 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Dacia Sanderos are on UK roads?
There are 138,168 Dacia Sanderos currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,096 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Dacia Sandero at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Dacia Sandero is 67,010 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 50,948 and 82,044 miles.
Buying a used Sandero?
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 73.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £117 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 29.2% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.