Great Wall Steed MOT Failures
An analysis of 18,680 real DVSA MOT tests on the Great Wall Steed — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: GWS1 (2012–2018).
Where the Great Wall Steed fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Great Wall Steed is coil springs broken — this model is 1255 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it an extreme outlier for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 18,680 MOT tests, 12.66% of all Great Wall Steed 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 suspension pin, bush or joint worn (50x the fleet average), transmission shaft bearing worn (1014x the fleet average), transmission joint, belt or chain worn (744x the fleet average), and obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or... (13x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Great Wall Steed'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 5 categories: Suspension, Bodywork, Lights & Electrics, Brakes, Wheels. If you're inspecting a Great Wall Steed 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 Great Wall Steed'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 Great Wall Steed specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are coil springs broken (1255x the average) and transmission shaft bearing worn (1014x). transmission joint, belt or chain worn (744x) and brake pipes corroded (27x) 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 Great Wall Steed specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are coil springs broken (321x the average) and transmission joint, belt or chain worn (224x). transmission shaft bearing worn (117x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (16x) 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 Great Wall Steed specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are coil springs broken (266x the average) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (11x). brake pipes corroded (5.0x) and brake pipes corroded 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 Great Wall Steed specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Brake pipe corrosion (GWS1) Dangerous
The brake pipes on the Great Wall Steed corrode at 26.5 times the national fleet average, particularly affecting vehicles from 20,000 miles onwards. Affects GWS1; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£500.
Suspension joint and bush wear (GWS1) Major
Suspension pins, bushes and joints wear at 1254.5 times the national fleet average on the Great Wall Steed, making this the most severe documented suspension wear issue in the UK MOT database. Affects GWS1; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£400.
Transmission wear (GWS1) Major
Transmission components including joints, belts, chains and shaft bearings fail at extremely high rates on the Great Wall Steed. Affects GWS1; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£2,000.
Wheel bearing wear (GWS1) Major
Wheel bearings develop excessive play at 27.8 times the national fleet average on the Great Wall Steed, with the problem worsening over time. Affects GWS1; typical independent garage repair cost is £120–£250.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Great Wall Steed common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Great Wall Steed
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Great Wall Steed:
Suspension — check for coil springs broken, suspension pin, bush or joint worn. Bodywork — check for transmission shaft bearing worn, transmission joint, belt or chain worn.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about brake pipe corrosion and suspension joint and bush wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £200. 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 Great Wall Steed?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Great Wall Steed MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Great Wall Steed?
Based on 18,680 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is coil springs broken — at 1255x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include suspension pin, bush or joint worn and transmission shaft bearing worn.
Is the Great Wall Steed reliable based on MOT data?
The Great Wall Steed has 10 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag brake pipe corrosion 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 Great Wall Steed most commonly fails on coil springs broken and suspension pin, bush or joint worn. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are coil springs broken and transmission shaft bearing worn.
How do I check a Great Wall Steed'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.