Recorded in
3.1% 44% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 3,470,178 records across 1,809 models.
Suspension → Ball joint excessively worn
The Ball joint excessively worn MOT failure is recorded in 3.1% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 3,470,178 records across 1,809 models. A typical repair costs £18–£45. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Nissan Pathfinder records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
56%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£18–£45
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Ball joint excessively worn means on an MOT
Ball joint excessively worn is an MOT inspection item in the suspension section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when ball joint excessively worn. How serious it is — fail, minor or advisory — comes from the tester's grading in the DVSA record, not from this page.
How common is Ball joint excessively worn on an MOT?
Recorded in 3.1% of every MOT test in our data — 3,470,178 records across 1,809 models. That is 3% in every hundred tests, which puts Ball joint excessively worn in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 3,470,178 records for this item, 43.9% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.5% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 55.6% are advisories that did not fail the car.
Other things testers write about this item
Testers do not all write the same thing. These are the exact DVSA strings from the records for this item, each with how many tests it was written on — the page's keyword vocabulary comes straight from them.
- Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn — 8,849,112 records
- Track rod end ball joint has excessive play — 2,183,629 records
- Linkage ball joints ball joint excessively worn — 2,013,659 records
- Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated — 1,383,630 records
- Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt — 821,335 records
- Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 746,737 records
- Linkage ball joint dust cover ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 664,430 records
- Swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn — 654,041 records
- Linkage ball joint dust cover ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated — 610,734 records
- Linkage pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn — 542,936 records
What does it cost to fix Ball joint excessively worn?
A typical repair on this item costs £18–£45 at UK prices, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. The bracket is our estimate from reported prices and parts, rather than a DVSA figure — see how it is built on the method page.
How the price brackets are built · full repair cost list · add it to your fail-sheet total.
Models that record Ball joint excessively worn most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Nissan Pathfinder and Mercedes-Benz Clc lead the list: Nissan Pathfinder records it on 18.0% of its tests. The rate, not the volume, is what matters here — a model with 20,000 tests can outrank one with a million.
Which years of car record Ball joint excessively worn
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.3% |
| 2011 | 5.0% |
| 2012 | 4.5% |
| 2013 | 4.0% |
| 2014 | 3.3% |
| 2015 | 2.8% |
| 2016 | 2.0% |
| 2017 | 1.3% |
| 2018 | 0.9% |
| 2019 | 0.6% |
| 2020 | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.5% |
| 2022 | 0.4% |
| 2023 | 0.3% |
| 2024 | 0.2% |
These are rates by year of registration from 2010 to 2024, not year of test, so the curve mostly reflects age — a recent car has barely been to a test station. Compare models at the same age instead.
Frequently asked questions about Ball joint excessively worn
How common is Ball joint excessively worn on an MOT?
It is recorded in 3.1% of all MOT tests — 3,470,178 records across 1,809 models.
Does Ball joint excessively worn fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
43.9% of the records for it are a fail, 0.5% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 55.6% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Ball joint excessively worn most often?
Nissan Pathfinder and Mercedes-Benz Clc head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Nissan Pathfinder records it on 18.0%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Ball joint excessively worn?
Typically £18–£45 fitted, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. That is an estimate from reported prices, not a DVSA figure.
All 83 common MOT failures → Repair cost list → Failed your MOT? What now →