Recorded in
8.0% 15% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 8,849,112 records across 1,945 models.
Suspension → Suspension pin or bush excessively worn
The Suspension pin or bush excessively worn MOT failure is recorded in 8.0% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 8,849,112 records across 1,945 models. A typical repair costs £40–£150. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Lexus RX400H records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
85%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£40–£150
Usually a garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed. Parts only: £35–£75.
What Suspension pin or bush excessively worn means on an MOT
Suspension pin or bush excessively worn 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 suspension pin or bush excessively worn. 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 Suspension pin or bush excessively worn on an MOT?
Recorded in 8.0% of every MOT test in our data — 8,849,112 records across 1,945 models. That is 8% in every hundred tests, which puts Suspension pin or bush excessively worn among the most items testers record.
Of the 8,849,112 records for this item, 15.2% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.1% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 84.7% 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.
- Ball joint excessively worn — 3,470,178 records
- Linkage ball joints ball joint excessively worn — 2,013,659 records
- Swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn — 654,041 records
- Linkage pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn — 542,936 records
- Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush — 517,118 records
- Joints excessively worn — 83,903 records
- Prop shaft bearing excessively worn — 47,587 records
- Pins and bushes pin or bush likely to become detached — 41,408 records
- Steering column top bearing excessively worn — 30,415 records
- Shackle pins and bushes shackle pin or bush excessively worn — 26,829 records
What does it cost to fix Suspension pin or bush excessively worn?
A typical repair on this item costs £40–£150 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.
The part behind the price
Fitted, our bracket is £40–£150. The part itself is £35–£75. Roughly half the bracket is the part.
A suspension bush or pin — the rubber or polyurethane joint that lets a suspension arm move without metal-on-metal contact. "Excessively worn" means enough play to affect steering or tyre wear.
What to buy
Usually one bush per arm, but they come as a set for the arm or the anti-roll bar. Buy the whole arm on older cars: pressing a bush out of a corroded arm often costs more in labour than the arm itself.
| Tier | Brands | Parts price |
|---|---|---|
| Bush only Cheapest part; needs a press to fit. | Febi, Lemförder, Moog | £12–£30 |
| Complete arm typical Usually cheaper overall once labour is counted. | Lemförder, TRW, Delphi | £35–£75 |
| Polyurethane Longer life and sharper steering; firmer ride. | Powerflex, SuperPro | £45–£90 |
Fitting it
A garage job on most cars — a press, and often seized bolts. Corroded bolts are the reason the fitted bracket reaches £150.
On the retest
No perceptible play at the joint with the wheel loaded, and the bush not split or perished.
Parts prices are our survey of UK parts prices in 2025 money, for suspension pin or bush excessively worn, and exclude delivery, VAT differences and the fitting — see how these figures are built.
Models that record Suspension pin or bush excessively worn most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Lexus RX400H and Chevrolet Aveo lead the list: Lexus RX400H records it on 32.7% 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 | Lexus RX400H | 32.7% | 25,530 | — |
| 2 | Chevrolet Aveo | 26.3% | 35,342 | — |
| 3 | Lexus RX450H | 23.2% | 23,774 | — |
| 4 | Honda Fr-V | 21.8% | 27,466 | — |
| 5 | Subaru Forester | 21.6% | 50,493 | 2.7× · year by year → |
| 6 | Nissan Note | 21.6% | 566,669 | 2.7× · year by year → |
| 7 | Ford Transit | 21.3% | 1,107,503 | 2.7× · year by year → |
| 8 | SEAT Alhambra | 20.7% | 97,258 | 2.6× · year by year → |
| 9 | Honda Accord | 20.4% | 95,487 | 2.6× · year by year → |
| 10 | Volkswagen Bora | 19.7% | 20,051 | — |
| 11 | Nissan Pixo | 19.6% | 42,149 | — |
| 12 | Volkswagen Cc | 19.6% | 50,350 | — |
| 13 | Volkswagen Sharan | 19.4% | 126,447 | 2.4× · year by year → |
| 14 | Nissan Micra | 19.2% | 880,356 | 2.4× · year by year → |
| 15 | Volkswagen Touran | 19.1% | 272,345 | 2.4× · year by year → |
| 16 | Toyota Alphard | 18.7% | 36,514 | 2.3× · year by year → |
| 17 | Subaru Outback | 18.7% | 25,430 | 2.3× · year by year → |
| 18 | Saab 9-5 | 18.3% | 28,153 | 2.3× · year by year → |
| 19 | Volvo V70 | 18.3% | 146,306 | 2.3× · year by year → |
| 20 | Suzuki Alto | 17.7% | 174,258 | 2.2× · year by year → |
Which years of car record Suspension pin or bush excessively worn
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 12.6% |
| 2011 | 12.1% |
| 2012 | 11.1% |
| 2013 | 9.5% |
| 2014 | 8.6% |
| 2015 | 7.3% |
| 2016 | 6.1% |
| 2017 | 4.7% |
| 2018 | 2.9% |
| 2019 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | 1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.0% |
| 2022 | 0.8% |
| 2023 | 0.8% |
| 2024 | 0.2% |
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 Suspension pin or bush excessively worn
How common is Suspension pin or bush excessively worn on an MOT?
It is recorded in 8.0% of all MOT tests — 8,849,112 records across 1,945 models.
Does Suspension pin or bush excessively worn fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
15.2% of the records for it are a fail, 0.1% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 84.7% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Suspension pin or bush excessively worn most often?
Lexus RX400H and Chevrolet Aveo head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Lexus RX400H records it on 32.7%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Suspension pin or bush excessively worn?
Typically £40–£150 fitted, and it is usually a garage job. That is an estimate from reported prices, not a DVSA figure.
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