2020 Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,514 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 87.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.8% in the 60-90k group versus 8.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 410 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.7% | 200 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 143 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 96 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 27 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.7% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 282 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 181 |
| 3 | Wipers | 129 |
| 4 | Washers | 95 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 74 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 51 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.1% | 742 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.2% | 533 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.0% | 280 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 98 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 49 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,981 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,346 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 164 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 52 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 1,112 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 1,121 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 1,228 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Duster Essential Tce 4X2
Before buying a 2020 Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (4.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2s pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 3,514 2020 Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by visibility (5.7%).
Does the 2020 Duster Essential Tce 4X2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,514 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.