2018 Dacia Sandero MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 71.1% of Dacia Sanderos first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 37,799 Sandero first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Dacia Sanderos first used in 2018 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
71.1%
of 12,501 first tests; all cars first used in 2018: 80.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
37,799
first tests, 2023–2025; 12,501 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
41.5%
of 12,501 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
42,000
middle half: 29,500–56,500 miles; all cars first used in 2018: 52,000

How the 2018 Dacia Sandero MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Sanderos first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Sandero figure was 9.8 points lower.

2018 SanderoAll cars first used in 2018
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2018, test year 2021: 87.6%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2022: 86.3%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2023: 84.2%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2024: 82.5%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2025: 80.9%2018 Sandero, test year 2021: 81.9%2018 Sandero, test year 2022: 78.4%2018 Sandero, test year 2023: 77.8%2018 Sandero, test year 2024: 74.8%2018 Sandero, test year 2025: 71.1%80.9%71.1%
View this chart as a table
Test year2018 SanderoAll cars first used 2018Sandero first tests
202181.9%87.6%12,934
202278.4%86.3%12,811
202377.8%84.2%12,693
202474.8%82.5%12,605
202571.1%80.9%12,501

Common 2018 Dacia Sandero MOT failures

Share of the 9,609 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment43.0%
Visibility28.5%
Tyres18.0%
Brakes16.1%
Suspension13.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks9.1%
Body, chassis, structure6.4%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.1%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Headlamp aim: too low16.4%1,574
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively13.7%1,313
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam10.1%974
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid9.2%881
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.8%850

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2018 Dacia Sandero before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2018 Dacia Sandero MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Sanderos, as a share of all 37,799 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing20.4%7,726
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge11.0%4,156
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.7%2,547
Brake pads: wearing thin6.6%2,485
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively3.2%1,209

Questions about the 2018 Dacia Sandero MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Dacia Sandero?

In 2025, 71.1% of Sanderos first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2018 Sandero most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 43.0% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (28.5%) and tyres (18.0%). The single most common item was “Headlamp aim: too low” (16.4%).

How often does a 2018 Dacia Sandero fail its MOT?

In 2025, 28.9% of first tests on Sanderos first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 20.4% failed, and a further 8.4% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 9,609 of 37,799 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2018 Dacia Sandero MOT advisories?

“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 20.4% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (11.0%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (6.7%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (6.6%) and “Brake discs: worn, but not excessively” (3.2%).

Is a 2018 Dacia Sandero reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 81.9% in 2021 to 71.1% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2018

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2018 Dacia Sandero MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2018 Sandero” means a Dacia Sandero whose date of first use falls in 2018 (67, 18 and 68 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2018, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.