2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Tce — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,454 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Tce, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.1%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.3% | 62 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.8% | 55 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 39 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 21 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 5 |
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 | 51 |
| 2 | Wipers | 43 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 29 |
| 4 | Washers | 28 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 6 |
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 | 17.1% | 249 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 117 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.7% | 54 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 48 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 18 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 17 |
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 | 1,049 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 382 | 11.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 696 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 753 | 9.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Sandero Essential Tce
Before buying a 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Tce, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 4.3% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (4.3% 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 (3.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Tces pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 1,454 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Tce MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Dacia Sandero Essential Tce?
Visibility, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by tyres (3.8%).
Does the 2021 Sandero Essential Tce get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 11.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,454 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.