Recorded in
3.9% 19% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 4,306,407 records across 1,951 models.
Suspension → Shock absorber leaking
The Shock absorber leaking MOT failure is recorded in 3.9% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 4,306,407 records across 1,951 models. A typical repair costs £30–£75. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Vauxhall Adam records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
81%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£30–£75
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed. Parts only: £40–£65.
What Shock absorber leaking means on an MOT
Shock absorber leaking 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 shock absorber leaking. Each shock absorber must control the wheel's movement and show no serious leak or damage — a seriously leaking damper fails the car. The failure is reported against that rule, so the page uses the tester's own wording.
How common is Shock absorber leaking on an MOT?
Recorded in 3.9% of every MOT test in our data — 4,306,407 records across 1,951 models. That is 4% in every hundred tests, which puts Shock absorber leaking in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 4,306,407 records for this item, 18.5% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.2% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 81.4% 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.
- Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush — 517,118 records
- Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect — 401,696 records
- Shock absorbers damaged to the extent that it does not function — 394,271 records
- Shock absorbers insecurely attached — 13,448 records
- Shock absorbers likely to become detached — 6,684 records
What does it cost to fix Shock absorber leaking?
A typical repair on this item costs £30–£75 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.
The part behind the price
Fitted, our bracket is £30–£75. The part itself is £40–£65. The price is mostly the part.
A shock absorber (damper) — the oil-filled cylinder that controls how the spring releases. Leaking means the oil seal has gone, so the wheel keeps bouncing after a bump.
What to buy
Two per axle. Fitting one new damper against a worn one on the other side gives uneven damping, and the tester will notice the difference in the bounce test.
| Tier | Brands | Parts price |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Short-lived on a heavy car. | Pattern dampers | £25–£40 |
| Mid-range typical The usual choice; KYB is often the original fitment. | KYB, Febi, TRW, Monroe | £40–£65 |
| Premium Noticeable on a car you drive loaded or tow with. | Bilstein, Sachs, Koni | £65–£120 |
The premium tier can cost more than the whole typical bracket above. That is not a mistake in either figure: the bracket is a typical job, not a ceiling — and this is the point at which a quote tells you which part the garage is actually fitting.
Fitting it
DIY on many cars if the top mounts come apart — spring compressors are needed on struts, which is where most people stop. An hour a side for a garage.
On the retest
No fresh fluid on the damper body, and the bounce test: the corner should settle in one movement.
Parts prices are our survey of UK parts prices in 2025 money, for shock absorber leaking, and exclude delivery, VAT differences and the fitting — see how these figures are built.
Models that record Shock absorber leaking most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Vauxhall Adam and SEAT Leon lead the list: Vauxhall Adam records it on 19.9% 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 | Vauxhall Adam | 19.9% | 216,628 | — |
| 2 | SEAT Leon | 18.8% | 605,475 | 4.8× · year by year → |
| 3 | Skoda Rapid | 15.5% | 79,239 | — |
| 4 | Fiat 500C | 15.4% | 61,965 | 3.9× · year by year → |
| 5 | Skoda Octavia | 14.2% | 717,425 | 3.6× · year by year → |
| 6 | SEAT Leon Fr | 13.8% | 33,848 | — |
| 7 | Volkswagen E-Golf | 13.6% | 21,380 | — |
| 8 | Volkswagen Golf | 13.2% | 3,105,148 | 3.4× · year by year → |
| 9 | Fiat TIPO | 12.9% | 43,643 | — |
| 10 | Skoda Karoq | 12.8% | 151,337 | — |
| 11 | Skoda Yeti | 12.2% | 262,804 | — |
| 12 | SEAT Toledo | 12.2% | 21,888 | — |
| 13 | SEAT Ibiza | 11.4% | 710,421 | 2.9× · year by year → |
| 14 | Chevrolet Captiva | 10.9% | 23,583 | — |
| 15 | BMW 120 | 10.9% | 148,366 | 2.8× · year by year → |
| 16 | Ford Ka | 10.4% | 655,754 | 2.7× · year by year → |
| 17 | Fiat 500 | 10.2% | 1,134,841 | 2.6× · year by year → |
| 18 | SEAT Altea | 10.0% | 51,016 | 2.6× · year by year → |
| 19 | Vauxhall Astravan | 9.8% | 30,363 | — |
| 20 | BMW 3 Series | 9.7% | 1,302,681 | 2.5× · year by year → |
Which years of car record Shock absorber leaking
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.6% |
| 2011 | 5.6% |
| 2012 | 4.6% |
| 2013 | 4.5% |
| 2014 | 4.4% |
| 2015 | 4.1% |
| 2016 | 3.3% |
| 2017 | 2.9% |
| 2018 | 2.2% |
| 2019 | 2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.7% |
| 2021 | 1.4% |
| 2022 | 1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.1% |
| 2024 | 0.8% |
| 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 Shock absorber leaking
How common is Shock absorber leaking on an MOT?
It is recorded in 3.9% of all MOT tests — 4,306,407 records across 1,951 models.
Does Shock absorber leaking fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
18.5% of the records for it are a fail, 0.2% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 81.4% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Shock absorber leaking most often?
Vauxhall Adam and SEAT Leon head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Vauxhall Adam records it on 19.9%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Shock absorber leaking?
Typically £30–£75 fitted, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. That is an estimate from reported prices, not a DVSA figure.
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