Recorded in
0.4% 82% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 410,358 records across 1,505 models.
Lamps & electrics → Rear fog lamp not working
The Rear fog lamp not working MOT failure is recorded in 0.4% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 410,358 records across 1,505 models. A typical repair costs £3–£15. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Mazda Bongo records it most often for its size.
Fixed at the test
18%
were put right on the spot, so a fail was not recorded.
Typical cost
£3–£15
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Rear fog lamp not working means on an MOT
Rear fog lamp not working is an MOT inspection item in the lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when rear fog lamp not working. 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 Rear fog lamp not working on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.4% of every MOT test in our data — 410,358 records across 1,505 models. That is 0% in every hundred tests, which puts Rear fog lamp not working in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 410,358 records for this item, 81.6% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 18.4% 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.
- Rear fog lamp lens defective which has no effect on emitted light — 43,802 records
- Rear fog lamp does not emit a steady red light — 34,520 records
- Position lamp showing white light to the rear — 26,474 records
- Rear fog lamp lens defective such that emitted light is adversely affected — 21,765 records
- Rear fog lamp insecure — 18,164 records
- Registration plate lamp(s) throwing direct white light to the rear — 14,510 records
- Rear fog lamp missing — 12,261 records
- Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working — 12,128 records
- Rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp — 8,251 records
- Rear fog lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning — 6,945 records
What does it cost to fix Rear fog lamp not working?
A typical repair on this item costs £3–£15 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 Rear fog lamp not working most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Mazda Bongo and Mitsubishi L200 lead the list: Mazda Bongo records it on 5.0% of its tests. The rate, not the volume, is what matters here — a model with 20,000 tests can outrank one with a million.
| # | Model | Rate | Tests | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda Bongo | 5.0% | 30,855 | 12.5× · year by year → |
| 2 | Mitsubishi L200 | 3.5% | 299,746 | 8.8× · year by year → |
| 3 | Ford Fusion | 3.5% | 197,378 | 8.8× · year by year → |
| 4 | Isuzu D-Max | 3.4% | 107,665 | — |
| 5 | Volkswagen Beetle | 2.9% | 167,030 | 7.2× · year by year → |
| 6 | Nissan Elgrand | 2.7% | 48,135 | — |
| 7 | Toyota Estima | 2.6% | 59,618 | 6.5× · year by year → |
| 8 | Volkswagen Touareg | 2.6% | 121,838 | 6.5× · year by year → |
| 9 | Peugeot 206 | 2.4% | 175,269 | 6.0× · year by year → |
| 10 | Toyota Alphard | 2.2% | 36,514 | — |
| 11 | Vauxhall Tigra | 2.0% | 26,978 | — |
| 12 | Fiat Scudo | 1.9% | 32,202 | — |
| 13 | Toyota Hilux | 1.9% | 232,560 | 4.7× · year by year → |
| 14 | MINI COOPER D | 1.8% | 24,045 | — |
| 15 | Peugeot 307 | 1.7% | 121,498 | — |
| 16 | Nissan Primastar | 1.6% | 37,947 | — |
| 17 | Toyota Hiace | 1.5% | 23,078 | — |
| 18 | Renault Grand Scenic | 1.5% | 83,873 | — |
| 19 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 1.4% | 81,825 | — |
| 20 | Volkswagen Crafter | 1.4% | 25,501 | — |
Which years of car record Rear fog lamp not working
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.6% |
| 2011 | 0.5% |
| 2012 | 0.4% |
| 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 | 0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.0% |
| 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 Rear fog lamp not working
How common is Rear fog lamp not working on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.4% of all MOT tests — 410,358 records across 1,505 models.
Does Rear fog lamp not working fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
81.6% of the records for it are a fail, 18.4% 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 Rear fog lamp not working most often?
Mazda Bongo and Mitsubishi L200 head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Mazda Bongo records it on 5.0%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Rear fog lamp not working?
Typically £3–£15 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 →