Recorded in
1.6% 0% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 1,757,832 records across 1,512 models.
Play in steering rack inner joint
The Play in steering rack inner joint MOT failure is recorded in 1.6% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 1,757,832 records across 1,512 models. A typical repair costs £120–£300. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Peugeot 307 records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
100%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£120–£300
Usually a garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Play in steering rack inner joint means on an MOT
Play in steering rack inner joint is an MOT inspection item in the non-component advisories section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when play in steering rack inner joint. 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 Play in steering rack inner joint on an MOT?
Recorded in 1.6% of every MOT test in our data — 1,757,832 records across 1,512 models. That is 2% in every hundred tests, which puts Play in steering rack inner joint in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 1,757,832 records for this item, 0.0% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous) and 100.0% 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.
- Non-component advisories Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt — 2,271,695 records
- Track rod end ball joint has excessive play — 2,183,629 records
- Non-component advisories Nail in tyre — 2,027,877 records
- Non-component advisories Items removed from drivers view prior to test — 759,364 records
- Non-component advisories Coolant leak — 298,367 records
- Non-component advisories Fuel Pipe/s corroded — 242,099 records
- Non-component advisories Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights — 223,894 records
- Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) — 222,999 records
- Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 183,899 records
- Ball joint has excessive play — 120,080 records
What does it cost to fix Play in steering rack inner joint?
A typical repair on this item costs £120–£300 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 Play in steering rack inner joint most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Peugeot 307 and Suzuki Wagon-R+ lead the list: Peugeot 307 records it on 16.2% 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 | Peugeot 307 | 16.2% | 121,498 | — |
| 2 | Suzuki Wagon-R+ | 13.8% | 29,904 | — |
| 3 | Volkswagen Crafter | 9.7% | 25,501 | — |
| 4 | Nissan Primastar | 9.7% | 37,947 | — |
| 5 | Peugeot 206 | 9.5% | 175,269 | 5.9× · year by year → |
| 6 | Renault Scenic | 9.1% | 145,797 | 5.7× · year by year → |
| 7 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 9.1% | 81,825 | 5.7× · year by year → |
| 8 | Vauxhall Tigra | 9.1% | 26,978 | — |
| 9 | BMW X3 | 7.1% | 317,988 | 4.4× · year by year → |
| 10 | Volvo XC90 | 7.1% | 210,525 | 4.4× · year by year → |
| 11 | Renault Grand Scenic | 7.0% | 83,873 | 4.3× · year by year → |
| 12 | Volvo V70 | 6.6% | 146,306 | 4.1× · year by year → |
| 13 | Renault Megane | 6.6% | 411,704 | 4.1× · year by year → |
| 14 | Daihatsu Sirion | 6.3% | 22,729 | — |
| 15 | Vauxhall Combo | 6.3% | 401,612 | 3.9× · year by year → |
| 16 | Renault Kangoo | 5.8% | 221,971 | 3.6× · year by year → |
| 17 | Volvo C70 | 5.6% | 29,334 | — |
| 18 | Volkswagen Bora | 5.5% | 20,051 | — |
| 19 | Skoda Roomster | 5.2% | 69,027 | — |
| 20 | Mercedes-Benz Clc | 5.2% | 33,693 | — |
Which years of car record Play in steering rack inner joint
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.6% |
| 2011 | 2.4% |
| 2012 | 2.2% |
| 2013 | 2.0% |
| 2014 | 1.4% |
| 2015 | 0.9% |
| 2016 | 0.7% |
| 2017 | 0.5% |
| 2018 | 0.3% |
| 2019 | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.1% |
| 2024 | 0.1% |
| 2025 | 0.1% |
These are rates by year of registration from 2010 to 2025, 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 Play in steering rack inner joint
How common is Play in steering rack inner joint on an MOT?
It is recorded in 1.6% of all MOT tests — 1,757,832 records across 1,512 models.
Does Play in steering rack inner joint fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
0.0% of the records for it are a fail, 0.0% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 100.0% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Play in steering rack inner joint most often?
Peugeot 307 and Suzuki Wagon-R+ head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Peugeot 307 records it on 16.2%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Play in steering rack inner joint?
Typically £120–£300 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 →