Corrosion near a suspension mounting 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 an advisory on at least 0.2 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Mitsubishi Shogun got it most often: recorded 7.4 times per 100 of its 35,550 tests.
DVSA wording: The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component....
What it means
Rust within 30cm of where a sub-frame, spring or suspension part bolts to the body. The MOT calls these prescribed areas and treats them more strictly, because they carry the loads from the wheels. As an advisory the tester has seen corrosion there that is not yet considered excessive.
How serious it is
A fail when the strength or continuity of the structure is significantly reduced, major or dangerous depending on how bad it is.
Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 5 and Appendix A.
- Dangerous FailA direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it's been repaired.
- 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
Welding new metal into the affected area, which can mean removing suspension parts to reach it.
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 41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Shogun | 35,550 | 4.1 | 3.3 |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | 24,508 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 48,614 | 3.2 | 1.8 |
| Suzuki Jimny | 25,207 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| Mazda MX-5 | 95,311 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Honda Accord | 30,345 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
| Ford Ka | 191,357 | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Peugeot 107 | 119,430 | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Fiat Ducato | 95,994 | 2.1 | 1.4 |
| Citroen Xsara | 35,042 | 3.1 | · |
What to check at a viewing
- On the carLook at the metal around each suspension tower, spring seat and sub-frame mounting underneath. Fresh underseal over a small area can hide a repair or rot, so ask about it.
- 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 "Corrosion near a suspension mounting" mean on an MOT?
Corrosion near a suspension mounting: is it an MOT fail?
Which cars are most likely to get "corrosion near a suspension mounting" on an MOT?
More corrosion and body defects
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.