Anti-roll bar link worn MOT advisory: what it means and which cars get it
In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, testers recorded this as an advisory on at least 0.5 in 100 and as a failure on at least 0.2 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Land Rover Freelander got it most often: recorded 6.1 times per 100 of its 130,402 tests.
DVSA wording: A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What it means
A ball joint in a suspension linkage has play. On most cars this is a drop link joining the anti-roll bar to the suspension, a small part that wears quickly on rough roads. It usually rattles or knocks over uneven surfaces.
How serious it is
A major defect, so a fail, when excessively worn.
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.
- Advisory PassIt could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.
What fixing it usually involves
Replace the link, usually one of the quicker suspension jobs.
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 79 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 | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Freelander | 130,402 | 2.2 | 3.8 |
| Volkswagen Touran | 78,967 | 1.4 | 3.5 |
| Honda Civic | 299,187 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Renault Trafic | 125,608 | 3.7 | · |
| Nissan Qashqai | 557,917 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Volkswagen Caddy | 148,895 | 1.3 | 2.2 |
| Vauxhall Vivaro | 229,686 | 3.5 | · |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 34,827 | 1.2 | 1.9 |
| Peugeot 207 | 159,030 | 2.9 | · |
| Citroen Xsara | 35,042 | 2.9 | · |
What to check at a viewing
- On the carDrive slowly over a rough surface with the radio off: a light rattle or knock from the front is typical.
- In the MOT historyIf this appears as an advisory, see whether it came back at the next test or turned into a failure, and ask the seller for the receipt if it was fixed.
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 worn" mean on an MOT?
Anti-roll bar link worn: is it an MOT fail?
Which cars are most likely to get "anti-roll bar link worn" 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.