MOT defects · Suspension and steering

Shock absorber leaking 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 2.5 in 100 and as a failure on at least 0.5 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Vauxhall Adam got it most often: recorded 16.8 times per 100 of its 59,564 tests.

DVSA wording: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage.

Failures

0.5 in 100

At least 163,648 tests in 2023

Advisories

2.5 in 100

At least 829,602 tests in 2023

Most often

Vauxhall Adam

16.8 per 100 tests

What it means

A shock absorber (damper) is leaking oil or damaged. Once enough oil has gone it stops controlling the spring, so the car bounces, wallows in corners and needs longer to stop. As an advisory it usually means light misting, which the manual says is not a reason to fail on its own.

How serious it is

A major defect, so a fail, when it does not work or shows signs of severe leakage.

Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 5.3.2.

Major Fail
It may affect the vehicle's safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.
Advisory Pass
It could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.

What fixing it usually involves

Replace the shock absorbers, usually as a pair on the axle.

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 165 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
Vauxhall Adam	59,564	4.3	12.5
SEAT Leon	186,817	1.7	14.3
Skoda Rapid	22,968	1.3	12.3
Skoda Octavia	208,369	1.4	11.7
Volkswagen Golf	931,453	1.4	10.1
Skoda Yeti	76,626	0.7	10.1
SEAT Ibiza	195,989	2.1	8.0
BMW 120	45,188	3.5	6.6
Ford Ka	191,357	2.5	6.6
Skoda Karoq	42,292	0.9	8.0

What to check at a viewing

On the car
Push down hard on each corner: it should rise once and settle. Look at each shock absorber body for wet oil and grime.
In the MOT history
If 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 "Shock absorber leaking" mean on an MOT?

Shock absorber leaking: is it an MOT fail?

A major defect, so a fail, when it does not work or shows signs of severe leakage.

Which cars are most likely to get "shock absorber leaking" on an MOT?

In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, the models that got it most often were the Vauxhall Adam (16.8 per 100 tests), the SEAT Leon (16.0 per 100 tests), the Skoda Rapid (13.6 per 100 tests).

More suspension and steering defects

See every MOT defect we explain or MOT pass rates by model.

Coil spring broken or corroded Shock absorber leaking Shock absorber bush worn Suspension bush worn Suspension ball joint worn Anti-roll bar link worn Anti-roll bar link dust cover split Suspension joint dust cover split Track rod end worn Steering ball joint dust cover split Sub-frame corroded Suspension arm corroded CV joint boot split Wheel bearing play

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.