Recorded in
2.0% 45% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 2,183,629 records across 1,525 models.
Steering → Track rod end excessive play
The Track rod end excessive play MOT failure is recorded in 2.0% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 2,183,629 records across 1,525 models. A typical repair costs £18–£45. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Nissan Primastar records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
54%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£18–£45
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Track rod end excessive play means on an MOT
Track rod end excessive play is an MOT inspection item in the steering section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when track rod end excessive play. 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 Track rod end excessive play on an MOT?
Recorded in 2.0% of every MOT test in our data — 2,183,629 records across 1,525 models. That is 2% in every hundred tests, which puts Track rod end excessive play in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 2,183,629 records for this item, 45.3% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.8% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 53.9% 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
- Non-component advisories Play in steering rack inner joint(s) — 1,757,832 records
- Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated — 1,383,630 records
- Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt — 821,335 records
- Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 746,737 records
- Linkage ball joint dust cover ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 664,430 records
- Wheel bearings has excessive play — 612,494 records
- Linkage ball joint dust cover ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated — 610,734 records
- Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt — 288,384 records
What does it cost to fix Track rod end excessive play?
A typical repair on this item costs £18–£45 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 Track rod end excessive play most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Nissan Primastar and Renault Trafic lead the list: Nissan Primastar records it on 13.5% 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 | Nissan Primastar | 13.5% | 37,947 | 6.8× · year by year → |
| 2 | Renault Trafic | 12.6% | 420,397 | 6.3× · year by year → |
| 3 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 12.2% | 731,991 | 6.1× · year by year → |
| 4 | Renault Modus | 9.8% | 49,465 | — |
| 5 | Renault Megane | 9.8% | 411,704 | 4.9× · year by year → |
| 6 | Renault Grand Scenic | 9.5% | 83,873 | 4.8× · year by year → |
| 7 | Citroen DS3 | 9.4% | 290,266 | — |
| 8 | Chevrolet Aveo | 9.4% | 35,342 | — |
| 9 | Nissan Pathfinder | 9.3% | 22,325 | 4.7× · year by year → |
| 10 | Kia Soul | 9.2% | 87,780 | — |
| 11 | Renault Kangoo | 8.9% | 221,971 | 4.5× · year by year → |
| 12 | Renault Scenic | 8.8% | 145,797 | 4.4× · year by year → |
| 13 | Mitsubishi Lancer | 8.7% | 34,736 | — |
| 14 | Kia Venga | 8.7% | 167,347 | — |
| 15 | Peugeot 307 | 8.4% | 121,498 | — |
| 16 | Nissan Qashqai | 8.2% | 2,089,595 | 4.1× · year by year → |
| 17 | Nissan Juke | 8.0% | 1,128,547 | — |
| 18 | MG Tf | 7.6% | 32,921 | — |
| 19 | Hyundai IX20 | 7.5% | 102,232 | — |
| 20 | Fiat Bravo | 6.8% | 20,488 | — |
Which years of car record Track rod end excessive play
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.4% |
| 2011 | 3.3% |
| 2012 | 3.1% |
| 2013 | 2.8% |
| 2014 | 2.2% |
| 2015 | 1.6% |
| 2016 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | 0.8% |
| 2018 | 0.4% |
| 2019 | 0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.1% |
| 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 Track rod end excessive play
How common is Track rod end excessive play on an MOT?
It is recorded in 2.0% of all MOT tests — 2,183,629 records across 1,525 models.
Does Track rod end excessive play fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
45.3% of the records for it are a fail, 0.8% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 53.9% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Track rod end excessive play most often?
Nissan Primastar and Renault Trafic head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Nissan Primastar records it on 13.5%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Track rod end excessive play?
Typically £18–£45 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 →