Anti-roll bar link dust cover split MOT failure: what it means and which cars get it
In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, testers recorded this as a failure on at least 0.3 in 100 and as a minor defect on at least 0.09 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Hyundai Getz got it most often: recorded 7.4 times per 100 of its 23,077 tests.
DVSA wording: A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc; A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated.
What it means
The rubber boot on a suspension linkage joint, on most cars an anti-roll bar drop link, has split or perished. Without it, dirt and water get in and the joint wears out quickly.
How serious it is
A major defect, so a fail, when missing or no longer keeping dirt out. Severely deteriorated is a minor defect, which passes.
Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 5.3.4.
- Major FailIt may affect the vehicle's safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.
- Minor PassNo significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. Repair as soon as possible.
What fixing it usually involves
The link is normally replaced, as the boot is rarely sold separately.
A general guide, not a quote: ask a garage to inspect the car.
Which models get it most
Per 100 initial MOT tests on each model, among the 39 models with at least 20,000 tests where it is among the 40 most common items. DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail.
| Model | Tests | Fail | Minor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Getz | 23,077 | 4.3 | 3.1 |
| Peugeot 206 | 58,647 | 3.3 | · |
| Peugeot 307 | 39,404 | 3.3 | · |
| Citroen Xsara | 35,042 | 3.2 | · |
| Audi A3 | 412,754 | 1.8 | 1.2 |
| Volkswagen Scirocco | 49,054 | 1.9 | 1.1 |
| Volkswagen Touran | 78,967 | 2.9 | · |
| Volkswagen Golf | 931,453 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
| BMW 530 | 24,594 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| Mitsubishi ASX | 29,788 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
What to check at a viewing
- On the carLook behind each front wheel at the small links to the anti-roll bar for torn rubber boots and grease.
- In the MOT historyIf this appears in past results, ask what was done and when, and for the receipt.
Check a specific car
Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.
Questions
What does "Anti-roll bar link dust cover split" mean on an MOT?
Anti-roll bar link dust cover split: is it an MOT fail?
Which cars are most likely to get "anti-roll bar link dust cover split" on an MOT?
More suspension and steering defects
See every MOT defect we explain or MOT pass rates by model.
How these figures are made. We counted the defects recorded at every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 in the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Each item counts once per test. A failure is a major or dangerous defect, including one fixed during the test. A model's rate is the share of its tests where the item was recorded.
For each model we keep its 40 most frequent items, so a model where a defect is rarer than that is not listed, and figures for all cars are a floor. Defect names and explanations are ours, checked against the MOT inspection manual; DVSA's own wording is shown under each name.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.