Dacia Sandero common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Dacia Sandero at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 99,578 UK MOT tests of the Dacia Sandero in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is horn (not working): recorded on 3.5% of tests of 2014–2016 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 35× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: linkage pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (30×); joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) (17×); headlamp aim (too low) (6.7×). The most common reasons a Dacia Sandero fails its MOT are joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); headlamp aim (too low).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Dacia Sandero
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Dacia Sandero than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horn: not working | MOT fail | 2014–2016 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3.5% | 0.1% | 35× | 13,629 |
| Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2012–2014 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 6.1% | 0.2% | 30× | 3,273 |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | MOT fail | 2014–2016 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 6.7% | 0.4% | 17× | 9,819 |
| Headlamp aim: too low | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 4% | 0.6% | 6.7× | 18,264 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.6% | 0.5% | 7.2× | 2,296 |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 6.5% | 1.2% | 5.4× | 2,939 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | MOT fail | 2020–2022 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 9.2% | 1.9% | 4.8× | 3,020 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 5.7% | 1.2% | 4.8× | 2,939 |
Dacia Sandero by mileage (2017–2019 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 10,687 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (17%) | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (6.3%, 2.6×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 18,264 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (20%) | Headlamp aim: too low (4%, 6.7×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 8,222 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (18%) | Headlamp aim: too low (5.1%, 6.4×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 2,296 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (3.6%, 7.2×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 611 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (5.6%, 7×) |
Dacia Sandero by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 7,418 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (31×) |
| 2014 | 12,930 | Horn: not working at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (25×) |
| 2015 | 14,875 | Horn: not working at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (35×) |
| 2016 | 14,596 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (13×) |
| 2017 | 14,960 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (12×) |
| 2018 | 12,688 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (7.2×) |
| 2019 | 12,652 | Headlamp aim: too low at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (7×) |
| 2020 | 9,188 | Headlamp aim: too low at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (6.6×) |
| 2021 | 230 | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (4.8×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Dacia Sandero?
In 99,578 UK MOT tests of the Dacia Sandero in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is horn (not working): recorded on 3.5% of tests of 2014–2016 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 35× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: linkage pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (30×); joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) (17×); headlamp aim (too low) (6.7×). The most common reasons a Dacia Sandero fails its MOT are joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); headlamp aim (too low).
Why do Dacia Sanderos fail the MOT?
Across 99,578 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Dacia Sandero were joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) (6.7% of tests); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) (4.9% of tests); headlamp aim (too low) (3.7% of tests).
At what mileage do Dacia Sandero problems start?
The clearest Dacia Sandero-specific issue, horn (not working), peaks against other cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) on 2014–2016 cars (3.5% of tests vs 0.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Dacia Sandero data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 99,578 tests of the Dacia Sandero. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.