Recorded in
0.3% 75% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 375,918 records across 1,280 models.
Tyres → TPMS warning light on
The TPMS warning light on MOT failure is recorded in 0.3% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 375,918 records across 1,280 models. A typical repair costs £45–£95. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Vauxhall Viva records it most often for its size.
Fixed at the test
25%
were put right on the spot, so a fail was not recorded.
Typical cost
£45–£95
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What TPMS warning light on means on an MOT
TPMS warning light on is an MOT inspection item in the tyres section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when tPMS warning light on. 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 TPMS warning light on on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.3% of every MOT test in our data — 375,918 records across 1,280 models. That is 0% in every hundred tests, which puts TPMS warning light on in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 375,918 records for this item, 75.4% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 24.6% 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.
- Driver's airbag obviously inoperative — 8,472 records
- System inoperative — 2,483 records
- Passenger's airbag obviously inoperative — 1,573 records
What does it cost to fix TPMS warning light on?
A typical repair on this item costs £45–£95 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 TPMS warning light on most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Vauxhall Viva and Jeep Renegade lead the list: Vauxhall Viva records it on 3.1% 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 Viva | 3.1% | 126,330 | — |
| 2 | Jeep Renegade | 2.0% | 92,469 | — |
| 3 | Vauxhall Mokka | 1.5% | 830,268 | — |
| 4 | Hyundai IX35 | 1.5% | 195,456 | — |
| 5 | Ford Grand C-Max | 1.4% | 131,861 | — |
| 6 | Ford Tourneo Connect | 1.2% | 49,624 | — |
| 7 | Ford Tourneo Custom | 1.1% | 31,825 | — |
| 8 | Ford B-Max | 1.1% | 190,750 | — |
| 9 | Suzuki Baleno | 1.1% | 23,277 | — |
| 10 | Hyundai I40 | 1.0% | 74,901 | — |
| 11 | MG Hs | 1.0% | 34,155 | — |
| 12 | Ford Tourneo | 1.0% | 49,920 | — |
| 13 | SsangYong Tivoli | 0.9% | 22,644 | — |
| 14 | Jeep Cherokee | 0.9% | 30,409 | — |
| 15 | Volkswagen Cc | 0.9% | 50,350 | — |
| 16 | Ford C-Max | 0.9% | 406,520 | — |
| 17 | Vauxhall Astra | 0.8% | 2,353,816 | — |
| 18 | Mercedes-Benz Vito | 0.8% | 319,824 | — |
| 19 | Ford Kuga | 0.8% | 990,804 | — |
| 20 | Ford Ecosport | 0.8% | 347,872 | — |
Which years of car record TPMS warning light on
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.1% |
| 2013 | 0.1% |
| 2014 | 0.7% |
| 2015 | 1.1% |
| 2016 | 0.8% |
| 2017 | 0.6% |
| 2018 | 0.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3% |
| 2020 | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 0.3% |
| 2022 | 0.2% |
| 2023 | 0.3% |
| 2024 | 0.3% |
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 TPMS warning light on
How common is TPMS warning light on on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.3% of all MOT tests — 375,918 records across 1,280 models.
Does TPMS warning light on fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
75.4% of the records for it are a fail, 24.6% 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 TPMS warning light on most often?
Vauxhall Viva and Jeep Renegade head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Vauxhall Viva records it on 3.1%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix TPMS warning light on?
Typically £45–£95 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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