Recorded in
0.6% 99% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 664,430 records across 1,050 models.
Suspension → Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure
The Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure MOT failure is recorded in 0.6% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 664,430 records across 1,050 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 Volkswagen Fox records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
0%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£18–£45
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure means on an MOT
Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure 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 linkage ball joint dust cover insecure. 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 Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.6% of every MOT test in our data — 664,430 records across 1,050 models. That is 1% in every hundred tests, which puts Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 664,430 records for this item, 98.9% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 1.1% 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.
- Ball joint excessively worn — 3,470,178 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
- Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 1,297,258 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 severely deteriorated — 610,734 records
- Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 288,384 records
- Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 183,899 records
What does it cost to fix Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure?
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 Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Volkswagen Fox and Hyundai Getz lead the list: Volkswagen Fox records it on 3.5% 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 | Volkswagen Fox | 3.5% | 104,121 | — |
| 2 | Hyundai Getz | 3.4% | 76,810 | — |
| 3 | Volkswagen Eos | 2.9% | 46,785 | — |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz Clc | 2.7% | 33,693 | — |
| 5 | Peugeot 307 | 2.6% | 121,498 | — |
| 6 | Toyota Alphard | 2.5% | 36,514 | — |
| 7 | SEAT Altea | 2.5% | 51,016 | — |
| 8 | Peugeot 206 | 2.5% | 175,269 | 4.2× · year by year → |
| 9 | Mazda Bongo | 2.5% | 30,855 | — |
| 10 | Vauxhall Corsa E | 2.4% | 24,357 | — |
| 11 | Jaguar S-Type | 2.4% | 39,418 | — |
| 12 | Volkswagen Touran | 2.3% | 272,345 | 3.8× · year by year → |
| 13 | Rover 75 | 2.3% | 28,888 | — |
| 14 | Renault Modus | 2.3% | 49,465 | — |
| 15 | Nissan Elgrand | 2.3% | 48,135 | — |
| 16 | Citroen Xsara | 2.3% | 106,340 | 3.8× · year by year → |
| 17 | Vauxhall Tigra | 2.2% | 26,978 | — |
| 18 | Volkswagen Jetta | 2.1% | 49,204 | — |
| 19 | Ford Focus C-Max | 2.1% | 56,718 | — |
| 20 | Toyota Estima | 2.1% | 59,618 | — |
Which years of car record Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.2% |
| 2011 | 1.1% |
| 2012 | 0.9% |
| 2013 | 0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.5% |
| 2015 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.2% |
| 2017 | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.0% |
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 Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure
How common is Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.6% of all MOT tests — 664,430 records across 1,050 models.
Does Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
98.9% of the records for it are a fail, 1.1% 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 Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure most often?
Volkswagen Fox and Hyundai Getz head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Volkswagen Fox records it on 3.5%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Linkage ball joint dust cover insecure?
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 →