MOT minor defect · manual section 5.3.4
Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated
What this MOT minor defect means, how often testers record it and what garages charge per hour. From 130,233,413 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
Times recorded adds every DVSA code with this wording, so a test can record it more than once, for example on two wheels under separate codes.
What it means
This is a minor defect: the car passes its MOT and the defect is recorded. A minor defect has no significant effect on safety or the environment. The car passes its MOT and the defect is recorded on the certificate. It should be repaired as soon as possible.
Springs, shock absorbers, arms, bushes and ball joints hold each wheel in place and control how it moves. Wear lets a wheel move in ways it should not, and corrosion can weaken springs and mounting points.
The MOT inspection manual describes it (section 5.3.4) as:
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
Read this section of the MOT inspection manual on GOV.UK
| Result | Manual item | DVSA defect text | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor defect | Ball joint dust cover | ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4) | 1,045,613 |
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How common it is by age
Testers record it most at 21 years: 2.09 per 100 MOTs (n=1,321,417 tests at that age).
| Age | Minor defect per 100 | Tests (n) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 0.017 | 8,016,463 |
| 4 years | 0.034 | 8,699,937 |
| 5 years | 0.083 | 9,425,360 |
| 6 years | 0.20 | 10,382,720 |
| 7 years | 0.37 | 10,537,318 |
| 8 years | 0.55 | 10,440,457 |
| 9 years | 0.66 | 9,949,012 |
| 10 years | 0.74 | 9,049,507 |
| 11 years | 0.84 | 8,087,514 |
| 12 years | 0.98 | 7,303,151 |
| 13 years | 1.18 | 6,612,160 |
| 14 years | 1.43 | 6,054,526 |
| 15 years | 1.66 | 5,591,675 |
| 16 years | 1.79 | 4,858,625 |
| 17 years | 1.87 | 4,040,458 |
| 18 years | 1.95 | 3,261,622 |
| 19 years | 2.07 | 2,479,858 |
| 20 years | 2.09 | 1,845,952 |
| 21 years | 2.09 | 1,321,417 |
| 22 years | 2.03 | 913,980 |
| 23 years | 1.91 | 619,531 |
| 24 years | 1.89 | 428,815 |
| 25 years | 1.87 | 313,355 |
Models that get it most
Each model generation is compared with cars of the same ages and fuel, so older and diesel models are not penalised for their age or fuel. Generations are never pooled.
| Model | Per 100 MOTs, at least | Same ages and fuel | Times as often | Tests (n) | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki BalenoSuzuki Baleno suspension problems | 7.46 | 0.25 | 29.6 | 26,797 | 3 to 9 |
| SsangYong RextonSsangYong Rexton suspension problems | 3.26 | 0.30 | 10.7 | 9,823 | 3 to 9 |
| Mitsubishi MirageMitsubishi Mirage suspension problems | 3.91 | 0.44 | 8.9 | 44,082 | 3 to 12 |
| Vauxhall MokkaVauxhall Mokka suspension problems | 3.44 | 0.39 | 8.8 | 930,592 | 3 to 12 |
| Renault KadjarRenault Kadjar suspension problems | 2.01 | 0.27 | 7.4 | 267,506 | 3 to 10 |
| Jeep Compassfirst used before 2017Jeep Compass suspension problems | 4.72 | 0.89 | 5.3 | 9,223 | 9 to 13 |
| Nissan QashqaiNissan Qashqai suspension problems | 3.22 | 0.62 | 5.2 | 2,264,112 | 3 to 18 |
| Ford EcoSport | 1.12 | 0.23 | 4.9 | 402,494 | 3 to 11 |
| Mitsubishi ColtMitsubishi Colt suspension problems | 6.85 | 1.46 | 4.6 | 93,891 | 10 to 20 |
| Volvo V40first used before 2012Volvo V40 suspension problems | 9.07 | 2.00 | 4.5 | 15,100 | 18 to 24 |
| Citroen C-CrosserCitroen C-Crosser suspension problems | 7.18 | 1.76 | 4.0 | 6,100 | 13 to 16 |
| Isuzu TFIsuzu TF suspension problems | 4.68 | 1.18 | 3.9 | 6,237 | 11 to 14 |
| Honda CR-VHonda CR-V suspension problems | 4.23 | 1.07 | 3.9 | 806,907 | 3 to 25 |
| Honda CR-ZHonda CR-Z suspension problems | 4.84 | 1.24 | 3.8 | 14,697 | 10 to 15 |
| Hyundai i20Hyundai i20 suspension problems | 2.43 | 0.63 | 3.8 | 511,594 | 3 to 16 |
| Mitsubishi Space StarMitsubishi Space Star suspension problems | 7.60 | 2.01 | 3.7 | 5,331 | 18 to 21 |
| Toyota GT86Toyota GT86 suspension problems | 2.13 | 0.58 | 3.6 | 26,073 | 4 to 13 |
| Mazda 6Mazda 6 suspension problems | 3.06 | 0.84 | 3.6 | 259,157 | 3 to 20 |
| Honda FR-VHonda FR-V suspension problems | 6.36 | 1.76 | 3.6 | 29,995 | 13 to 19 |
| Ford FusionFord Fusion suspension problems | 5.96 | 1.65 | 3.6 | 220,682 | 11 to 22 |
Repair and cost
We do not map this defect to one repair job, because the fix depends on the cause. Garages charge by the hour, so ask for a quote that lists labour time and parts.
Median hourly rate charged for car repairs, from 1,058 local garage and 953 main dealer price quotes collected by the ONS, September 2025 to August 2026. The same shops are priced each month, so the number of shops is the real sample.
Related MOT defects
- Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement4.92 per 100
- Coil spring corroded3.09 per 100
- Shock absorber has light misting of oil2.89 per 100
- Coil spring fractured or broken2.37 per 100
- Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.89 per 100
- Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn1.41 per 100
- Suspension arm ball joint has slight play1.31 per 100
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn1.19 per 100
- Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play1.18 per 100
- Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened1.08 per 100
All axles, wheels, tyres and suspension defects All MOT defects Car repair costs
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Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025, and the MOT inspection manual published on GOV.UK. Prices: ONS consumer price inflation price quotes, September 2025 to August 2026, UK.
MOT data updated . Prices updated .
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA or the Office for National Statistics. How we calculate these figures · Data sources