MOT defects · Suspension and steering

Wheel bearing play 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 0.3 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Isuzu D-Max got it most often: recorded 12.5 times per 100 of its 35,425 tests.

DVSA wording: A wheel bearing with excessive play.

Advisories

0.3 in 100

At least 101,123 tests in 2023

Most often

Isuzu D-Max

12.5 per 100 tests

What it means

A wheel bearing has movement in it. Bearings wear gradually and often hum or rumble before the play becomes obvious.

How serious it is

A major defect, so a fail, when it has excessive play. Play so bad it is likely to break up is dangerous.

Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 5.1.3.

Dangerous Fail
A 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 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 bearing, or the whole hub on many modern cars.

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 20 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	Advisory
Isuzu D-Max	35,425	12.5
Land Rover Defender	112,814	6.7
Mercedes-Benz CLK	32,623	6.1
Mitsubishi Shogun	35,550	5.5
Mercedes-Benz SLK	59,720	4.5
Mercedes-Benz CLS	25,386	4.3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class	243,437	3.2
Fiat Ducato	95,994	3.2
Suzuki Jimny	25,207	3.1
Jaguar XJ	25,292	3.1

What to check at a viewing

On the car
On the test drive, listen for a hum or rumble that rises with speed and changes as you turn.
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 "Wheel bearing play" mean on an MOT?

A wheel bearing has movement in it. Bearings wear gradually and often hum or rumble before the play becomes obvious.

Wheel bearing play: is it an MOT fail?

A major defect, so a fail, when it has excessive play. Play so bad it is likely to break up is dangerous.

Which cars are most likely to get "wheel bearing play" on an MOT?

In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, the models that got it most often were the Isuzu D-Max (12.5 per 100 tests), the Land Rover Defender (6.7 per 100 tests), the Mercedes-Benz CLK (6.1 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.