Dacia Sandero MOT Failures
An analysis of 1,107,811 real DVSA MOT tests on the Dacia Sandero — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: MK1 (2008–2012), MK2 (2012–2021).
Where the Dacia Sandero fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Dacia Sandero is anti-roll bar links worn — this model is 72 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 1,107,811 MOT tests, 0.04% of all Dacia Sandero tests recorded this as a failure.
Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.
Other notable weak points include emissions failure (42x the fleet average), electrical wiring fault (16x the fleet average), headlight fault (24x the fleet average), and transmission joint, belt or chain worn (11x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Dacia Sandero'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: Suspension, Exhaust & Emissions, Lights & Electrics, Bodywork, Steering and others. If you're inspecting a Dacia Sandero 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 Sandero'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 Sandero specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (72x the average) and power steering fault (53x). electrical wiring fault (15x) and registration plate lamp (14x) 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 Sandero specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (41x the average) and tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned (26x). headlight fault (24x) and emissions failure (21x) 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 Sandero specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (33x the average) and electrical wiring fault (9.2x). brake fluid significantly below minimum mark (8.5x) and registration plate lamp not securely attached (7.3x) also appear frequently.
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 Sandero specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Rear suspension component failure (MK2) Dangerous
The rear suspension trailing arms, mounting brackets and associated components on MK2 Sanderos suffer from premature failure at unusually low mileages. Affects MK2; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£600.
CV joint boot failure (MK2) Major
The constant velocity joint protective boots on MK2 Sanderos fail at 95.3 times the national average, with nearly 20,000 recorded MOT failures across all engine variants. Affects MK2; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£200.
Power steering system failure (MK2) Major
The hydraulic power steering system on MK2 Sanderos fails at 95.3 times the national average across multiple engine variants. Affects MK2; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
Emissions system failure on TCe engines (MK2) Major
The primary causes are catalytic converter degradation, lambda sensor failure, and carbon build-up in the intake system. Affects MK2; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£800.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Dacia Sandero common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Dacia Sandero
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Dacia Sandero:
Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn. Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure. Lights & Electrics — check for electrical wiring fault, headlight fault.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about rear suspension component failure and cv joint boot failure. 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 Sandero?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Dacia Sandero MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Dacia Sandero?
Based on 1,107,811 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is anti-roll bar links worn — at 72x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include emissions failure and electrical wiring fault.
Is the Dacia Sandero reliable based on MOT data?
The Dacia Sandero has 15 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag rear suspension component failure 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 Sandero most commonly fails on anti-roll bar links worn and electrical wiring fault. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are anti-roll bar links worn and power steering fault.
How do I check a Dacia Sandero'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.