Dacia Logan MOT Failures
An analysis of 156,716 real DVSA MOT tests on the Dacia Logan — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: MCV1 (2004–2012), MCV2 (2012–2021).
Where the Dacia Logan fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Dacia Logan is headlight fault — this model is 22 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 156,716 MOT tests, 0.69% of all Dacia Logan tests recorded this as a failure.
Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.
Other notable weak points include anti-roll bar links worn (50x the fleet average), electrical wiring fault (15x the fleet average), brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ... (9.3x the fleet average), and tyre wear or damage (13x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Dacia Logan's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 6 categories: Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Brakes, Tyres, Exhaust & Emissions and others. If you're inspecting a Dacia Logan before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Dacia Logan's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Dacia Logan specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are headlight fault (22x the average) and seat mounting fault (21x). anti-roll bar links worn (14x) and brake hoses perished or damaged (11x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Dacia Logan specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (44x the average) and electrical wiring fault (15x). emissions failure (12x) and headlight fault (9.1x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Dacia Logan specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (28x the average) and brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ... (9.3x). obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or... (9.1x) and tyre wear or damage (8.6x) also appear frequently.
The shift from headlight fault at lower mileages to anti-roll bar links worn at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Dacia Logan specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Suspension component detachment risk Dangerous
Suspension pins, bushes, and joints on the 1.5 diesel variants show extremely high failure rates, with MOT data showing up to 50 times the national average failure rate at 40-60k miles. Affects MCV1, MCV2; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£800.
Suspension component fracture (MCV2) Major
The 0.9 petrol engine variants show suspension component fractures at 27.5 times the fleet average at 80-100k miles. Affects MCV2; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
Excessive suspension bush wear
All engine variants show suspension bush wear at up to 13.6 times the fleet average, with some failures occurring as early as 20-40k miles on the 1.1 petrol. Affects MCV1, MCV2; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£400.
Engine management light illumination
The 1.0 petrol and 1.5 diesel engines show malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) failures at up to This typically indicates emissions system faults, sensor failures, or engine management issues that trigger the warning light. Affects MCV2; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£300.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Dacia Logan common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Dacia Logan
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Dacia Logan:
Lights & Electrics — check for headlight fault, electrical wiring fault. Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn. Brakes — check for brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ..., brake fluid significantly below minimum mark.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about suspension component detachment risk and suspension component fracture. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £300. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Dacia Logan?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Dacia Logan MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Dacia Logan?
Based on 156,716 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is headlight fault — at 22x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include anti-roll bar links worn and electrical wiring fault.
Is the Dacia Logan reliable based on MOT data?
The Dacia Logan has 13 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag suspension component detachment risk as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Dacia Logan most commonly fails on anti-roll bar links worn and brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose .... Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are headlight fault and seat mounting fault.
How do I check a Dacia Logan's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.