Recorded in
0.6% 22% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 612,494 records across 1,350 models.
Suspension → Wheel bearings has excessive play
The Wheel bearings has excessive play MOT failure is recorded in 0.6% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 612,494 records across 1,350 models. A typical repair costs £20–£55. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Isuzu D-Max records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
78%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£20–£55
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Wheel bearings has excessive play means on an MOT
Wheel bearings has excessive play 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 wheel bearings has 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 Wheel bearings has excessive play on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.6% of every MOT test in our data — 612,494 records across 1,350 models. That is 1% in every hundred tests, which puts Wheel bearings has excessive play in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 612,494 records for this item, 22.1% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.5% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 77.5% 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.
- Track rod end ball joint has excessive play — 2,183,629 records
- Wheel bearings rough when rotated — 673,916 records
- Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) — 222,999 records
- Ball joint has excessive play — 120,080 records
- Macpherson strut top bush or bearing has excessive wear or free play — 81,934 records
- Drag link end ball joint has excessive play — 59,748 records
- Universal joint has excessive wear or play — 49,004 records
- Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) — 20,545 records
- Wheel bearings so rough it is likely to overheat or break up — 11,769 records
- Wheel bearings play so excessive it is likely to break up — 10,729 records
What does it cost to fix Wheel bearings has excessive play?
A typical repair on this item costs £20–£55 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 Wheel bearings has excessive play most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Isuzu D-Max and Chevrolet Matiz lead the list: Isuzu D-Max records it on 15.1% of its tests. The rate, not the volume, is what matters here — a model with 20,000 tests can outrank one with a million.
Which years of car record Wheel bearings has excessive play
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.8% |
| 2011 | 0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.6% |
| 2013 | 0.5% |
| 2014 | 0.4% |
| 2015 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.2% |
| 2017 | 0.2% |
| 2018 | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.1% |
| 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 Wheel bearings has excessive play
How common is Wheel bearings has excessive play on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.6% of all MOT tests — 612,494 records across 1,350 models.
Does Wheel bearings has excessive play fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
22.1% of the records for it are a fail, 0.5% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 77.5% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Wheel bearings has excessive play most often?
Isuzu D-Max and Chevrolet Matiz head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Isuzu D-Max records it on 15.1%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Wheel bearings has excessive play?
Typically £20–£55 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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