Recorded in
0.4% 23% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 401,696 records across 1,092 models.
Suspension → Shock absorber has no damping
The Shock absorber has no damping MOT failure is recorded in 0.4% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 401,696 records across 1,092 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 Vectra records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
77%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£30–£75
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Shock absorber has no damping means on an MOT
Shock absorber has no damping 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 has no damping. 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 has no damping on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.4% of every MOT test in our data — 401,696 records across 1,092 models. That is 0% in every hundred tests, which puts Shock absorber has no damping in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 401,696 records for this item, 23.1% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.1% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 76.8% 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 a serious fluid leak — 4,306,407 records
- Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush — 517,118 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 has no damping?
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.
Models that record Shock absorber has no damping most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Vauxhall Vectra and Vauxhall Astravan lead the list: Vauxhall Vectra records it on 2.6% 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 Vectra | 2.6% | 117,307 | 6.5× · year by year → |
| 2 | Vauxhall Astravan | 2.3% | 30,363 | — |
| 3 | Audi A2 | 1.7% | 25,108 | — |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1.5% | 131,854 | 3.8× · year by year → |
| 5 | Renault Kangoo | 1.4% | 221,971 | 3.5× · year by year → |
| 6 | Volkswagen Caddy | 1.4% | 535,307 | 3.5× · year by year → |
| 7 | Citroen C4 Grand Picasso | 1.4% | 53,329 | — |
| 8 | Ford Focus C-Max | 1.4% | 56,718 | — |
| 9 | BMW 120 | 1.3% | 148,366 | 3.3× · year by year → |
| 10 | Land Rover Freelander | 1.3% | 444,821 | 3.3× · year by year → |
| 11 | BMW 3 Series | 1.1% | 1,302,681 | 2.8× · year by year → |
| 12 | Volvo XC70 | 1.1% | 63,164 | — |
| 13 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 1.0% | 81,825 | — |
| 14 | Volkswagen Lupo | 1.0% | 21,292 | — |
| 15 | Volvo V50 | 1.0% | 120,069 | — |
| 16 | Volkswagen Bora | 1.0% | 20,051 | — |
| 17 | BMW 116 | 1.0% | 371,136 | 2.5× · year by year → |
| 18 | Volvo C70 | 1.0% | 29,334 | — |
| 19 | Chevrolet Captiva | 1.0% | 23,583 | — |
| 20 | Hyundai Getz | 1.0% | 76,810 | — |
Which years of car record Shock absorber has no damping
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.6% |
| 2011 | 0.6% |
| 2012 | 0.5% |
| 2013 | 0.4% |
| 2014 | 0.3% |
| 2015 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.2% |
| 2017 | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.0% |
| 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 Shock absorber has no damping
How common is Shock absorber has no damping on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.4% of all MOT tests — 401,696 records across 1,092 models.
Does Shock absorber has no damping fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
23.1% of the records for it are a fail, 0.1% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 76.8% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Shock absorber has no damping most often?
Vauxhall Vectra and Vauxhall Astravan head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Vauxhall Vectra records it on 2.6%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Shock absorber has no damping?
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.
All 83 common MOT failures → Repair cost list → Failed your MOT? What now →