Recorded in
0.5% 99% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 494,933 records across 1,129 models.
Emissions & noise → Lambda reading outside limits
The Lambda reading outside limits MOT failure is recorded in 0.5% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 494,933 records across 1,129 models. A typical repair costs £60–£250. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Fiat Grande Punto records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
0%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£60–£250
Usually a garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Lambda reading outside limits means on an MOT
Lambda reading outside limits is an MOT inspection item in the noise, emissions and leaks section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when lambda reading outside limits. 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 Lambda reading outside limits on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.5% of every MOT test in our data — 494,933 records across 1,129 models. That is 0% in every hundred tests, which puts Lambda reading outside limits in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 494,933 records for this item, 98.5% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 1.5% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified.
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.
- Catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits — 185,287 records
- Catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits — 117,643 records
- On or after 01/07/2008 emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit — 111,765 records
- Catalyst emissions emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak — 110,614 records
- Catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits — 91,191 records
- Catalyst emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits — 67,051 records
- On or after 01/01/2014 emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit — 65,679 records
- Catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits — 51,495 records
- Catalyst emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits — 50,091 records
- Catalyst emissions emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration — 41,594 records
What does it cost to fix Lambda reading outside limits?
A typical repair on this item costs £60–£250 at UK prices, and it is usually a 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 Lambda reading outside limits most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Fiat Grande Punto and Volkswagen Fox lead the list: Fiat Grande Punto records it on 4.4% of its tests. The rate, not the volume, is what matters here — a model with 20,000 tests can outrank one with a million.
| # | Model | Rate | Tests | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiat Grande Punto | 4.4% | 25,466 | — |
| 2 | Volkswagen Fox | 3.9% | 104,121 | — |
| 3 | Toyota Celica | 3.5% | 27,501 | — |
| 4 | Hyundai Coupe | 3.3% | 23,404 | — |
| 5 | Volkswagen Lupo | 3.2% | 21,292 | — |
| 6 | Fiat Punto | 3.2% | 226,310 | 6.4× · year by year → |
| 7 | Subaru Impreza | 2.7% | 54,707 | — |
| 8 | Toyota MR2 | 2.5% | 24,989 | — |
| 9 | Porsche Boxster | 2.5% | 99,894 | 5.0× · year by year → |
| 10 | Peugeot 206 | 2.3% | 175,269 | 4.6× · year by year → |
| 11 | MINI Mini | 2.2% | 1,024,301 | 4.4× · year by year → |
| 12 | Renault Twingo | 2.2% | 94,307 | 4.4× · year by year → |
| 13 | Fiat Bravo | 2.1% | 20,488 | — |
| 14 | Smart Mcc Forfour | 2.1% | 78,825 | — |
| 15 | Peugeot 107 | 2.0% | 422,184 | 4.0× · year by year → |
| 16 | MG Tf | 2.0% | 32,921 | — |
| 17 | Alfa Romeo Mito | 1.9% | 73,057 | — |
| 18 | Peugeot 208 | 1.8% | 723,065 | — |
| 19 | Mitsubishi Colt | 1.8% | 86,319 | — |
| 20 | Suzuki Jimny | 1.7% | 81,784 | — |
Which years of car record Lambda reading outside limits
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.7% |
| 2011 | 0.5% |
| 2012 | 0.5% |
| 2013 | 0.4% |
| 2014 | 0.3% |
| 2015 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.2% |
| 2017 | 0.2% |
| 2018 | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0% |
These are rates by year of registration from 2010 to 2023, 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 Lambda reading outside limits
How common is Lambda reading outside limits on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.5% of all MOT tests — 494,933 records across 1,129 models.
Does Lambda reading outside limits fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
98.5% of the records for it are a fail, 1.5% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 0.0% are advisories. In short, it is a fail (Major or Dangerous) most of the time.
Which cars record Lambda reading outside limits most often?
Fiat Grande Punto and Volkswagen Fox head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Fiat Grande Punto records it on 4.4%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Lambda reading outside limits?
Typically £60–£250 fitted, and it is usually a 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 →