Pass rate, every year
79.8% Around average
311 tests across 4 model years, 2001–2004.
−1.2 pts vs the national average
Proton Satria MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics
Best year to buy
2001 86.5%
The strongest of the 4 years on record. See the 2001 page →
Worst year to buy
2003 73.2%
13.3 points below the 2001 peak. See the 2003 page →
The Proton Satria MOT pass rate is 79.8%, −1.2 percentage points below the UK average. That is 311 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2001 and 2004. This page lists the most common Proton Satria MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.
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Proton Satria MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average
The Proton Satria passed on its first attempt in 77.0%, and its overall record sits −1.2 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Proton Satria in the 2023–2025 data: 311 tests across 4 model years (2001–2004). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.
| Measure | This model |
|---|---|
| Tests analysed | 311 |
| Overall pass rate | 79.8% |
| Passed on first attempt | 77.0% |
| Average mileage at test | 74,861 mi |
| Model years covered | 2001–2004 (4 years) |
| Versus UK national average | −1.2 pts below |
Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.
Most Common Proton Satria MOT Problems by Failure Category
Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Proton Satria, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.
| Inspection section | Share of failures |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 32% |
| Suspension | 15% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 13% |
| Steering | 12% |
| Visibility | 11% |
| Brakes | 10% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7% |
Shares are over the Proton Satria's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Around 32% of the recorded Proton Satria failures fall in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (7.1%), "Battery(ies) insecure but not likely to fall from carrier" (2.9%), "Rear fog lamp not working" (1.9%) among the Proton Satria's lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment faults.
Suspension
Around 15% of the recorded Proton Satria failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (4.5%), "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (2.3%), "Linkage ball joint dust cover ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (0.6%) among the Proton Satria's suspension faults.
Noise, emissions and leaks
Around 13% of the recorded Proton Satria failures fall in the Noise, emissions and leaks section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits" (3.5%), "Catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits" (1.3%), "Emissions not tested unable to be completed" (0.6%) among the Proton Satria's noise, emissions and leaks faults.
Top Recorded Proton Satria DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions
The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Proton Satria, each with how many of the model's 311 tests it was noted on.
- "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 22 Proton Satria tests, 7.1% of the model's MOT record.
- "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (Major) — noted on about 14 Proton Satria tests, 4.5% of the model's MOT record.
- "Catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits" (Major) — noted on about 11 Proton Satria tests, 3.5% of the model's MOT record.
- "Exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases" (Major) — noted on about 10 Proton Satria tests, 3.2% of the model's MOT record.
- "Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (Major) — noted on about 9 Proton Satria tests, 2.9% of the model's MOT record.
- "Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt" (Minor) — noted on about 9 Proton Satria tests, 2.9% of the model's MOT record.
Best and Worst Proton Satria Model Years by Pass Rate
The strongest Proton Satria model year on record is 2001 (86.5% across 96 tests), and the weakest is 2003 (73.2%). The gap between them is 13.3 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.
Proton Satria reliability is declining in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 2.9 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Satria | 71 | 78.9% |
| 2003 Satria | 82 | 73.2% |
| 2002 Satria | 62 | 79.0% |
| 2001 Satria | 96 | 86.5% |
Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.
Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Proton Satria Owners
These checks follow this Proton Satria's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Proton Satria.
-
the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”
Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.
-
corrosion — “component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength”
Look under the sills, around the jacking points and where the suspension mounts meet the body. Flaking, holed or crumbly metal fails; a brown stain on sound metal does not.
-
the exhaust and emissions — “catalyst emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits”
Listen for a blow at idle and have someone rev it gently. Then look at the tailpipe smoke: blue is oil, white when warm is coolant, black is over-fuelling. Any of those and the emissions test is the least of it.
Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Proton Satria. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Proton Satria MOT & Reliability
What is the Proton Satria MOT pass rate?
79.8% of the 311 recorded Proton Satria MOT tests ended in a pass, −1.2 percentage points below the national average. 77.0% of those passed on the first attempt.
Which Proton Satria model years pass the MOT most often?
2001 is the strongest Proton Satria year on record at 86.5%, while 2003 is the weakest at 73.2%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.
What are the most common Proton Satria MOT failures?
The most recorded Proton Satria failures are "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" and "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" — together around 12% of tests, mostly in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section.