Recorded in
1.1% 0% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 1,204,871 records across 2,069 models.
Visibility → Wipers blade defective
The Wipers blade defective MOT failure is recorded in 1.1% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 1,204,871 records across 2,069 models. A typical repair costs £8–£22. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Mitsubishi Colt records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
0%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£8–£22
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Wipers blade defective means on an MOT
Wipers blade defective is an MOT inspection item in the visibility section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when wipers blade defective. The windscreen must be free of damage within the swept area, and each wiper must clear the area it is meant to cover. The failure is reported against that rule, so the page uses the tester's own wording.
How common is Wipers blade defective on an MOT?
Recorded in 1.1% of every MOT test in our data — 1,204,871 records across 2,069 models. That is 1% in every hundred tests, which puts Wipers blade defective in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 1,204,871 records for this item, 0.0% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 100.0% are minor.
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.
- Wipers blade missing — 11,842 records
What does it cost to fix Wipers blade defective?
A typical repair on this item costs £8–£22 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 Wipers blade defective most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Mitsubishi Colt and Vauxhall Corsa E lead the list: Mitsubishi Colt records it on 2.5% 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 | Mitsubishi Colt | 2.5% | 86,319 | — |
| 2 | Vauxhall Corsa E | 2.4% | 24,357 | — |
| 3 | Nissan Pixo | 2.3% | 42,149 | — |
| 4 | Citroen C4 Cactus | 2.3% | 74,323 | — |
| 5 | Toyota Corolla | 2.1% | 366,022 | — |
| 6 | Suzuki Alto | 2.1% | 174,258 | — |
| 7 | Peugeot Rifter | 2.1% | 24,162 | — |
| 8 | Hyundai Getz | 2.1% | 76,810 | — |
| 9 | Toyota Hi-Ace | 2.1% | 24,156 | — |
| 10 | Daihatsu Sirion | 2.1% | 22,729 | — |
| 11 | Nissan Almera | 2.1% | 54,229 | — |
| 12 | Nissan Leaf | 2.1% | 145,719 | — |
| 13 | Peugeot 206 | 2.1% | 175,269 | — |
| 14 | Volkswagen Fox | 2.0% | 104,121 | — |
| 15 | Suzuki Celerio | 2.0% | 88,112 | — |
| 16 | Honda Insight | 2.0% | 30,810 | — |
| 17 | Toyota Iq | 2.0% | 58,255 | — |
| 18 | Chevrolet Matiz | 2.0% | 40,193 | — |
| 19 | Toyota C-Hr | 2.0% | 255,306 | — |
| 20 | Nissan Micra | 2.0% | 880,356 | — |
Which years of car record Wipers blade defective
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.1% |
| 2011 | 1.0% |
| 2012 | 1.0% |
| 2013 | 0.9% |
| 2014 | 0.9% |
| 2015 | 0.9% |
| 2016 | 0.9% |
| 2017 | 1.0% |
| 2018 | 1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.1% |
| 2020 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | 1.3% |
| 2022 | 1.1% |
| 2023 | 0.5% |
| 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 Wipers blade defective
How common is Wipers blade defective on an MOT?
It is recorded in 1.1% of all MOT tests — 1,204,871 records across 2,069 models.
Does Wipers blade defective fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
0.0% of the records for it are a fail, 0.0% were fixed at the test, 100.0% are minor and 0.0% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Wipers blade defective most often?
Mitsubishi Colt and Vauxhall Corsa E head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Mitsubishi Colt records it on 2.5%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Wipers blade defective?
Typically £8–£22 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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