MOT warning lights — what happened next
Last updated · OBDCode UK editorial
Dashboard malfunction and warning lamps we can quantify from the 2024 Class 4 fail cohort. A lamp that we cannot put a number on is not listed. Lighting-equipment defects (headlamp, stop lamp, position lamp, fog, indicator, horn) are not listed.
Two lamps have a follow-up page. The others are the headline number only. Same-item fail is the share that failed the same wording again in 2025, with a 95% Wilson interval, or — if the cell is missing. Pages are listed only where the 2024 cohort is at least 500 cars.
Quantified warning lamps
Scroll horizontally to read every lamp column.
| Lamp | 2024 fail cohort | Same wording failed again in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine management light — Malfunction indicator lamp Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction diesel vs petrol | 391,384 | 14.8% (95% CI 14.7–14.9) |
| SRS / airbag warning light — SRS Malfunction Indicator Lamp warning lamp does not illuminate | 130,095 | 11.4% (95% CI 11.2–11.5) |
| Electronic parking brake MIL — Electronic parking brake MIL indicates a malfunction | 4,865 | 2.2% (95% CI 1.8–2.7) |
| Electronic power steering (EPS) MIL — Electronic power steering EPS MIL indicating a system malfunction | 4,861 | 2.4% (95% CI 2.0–2.9) |
| Anti-lock braking system warning — Anti-lock braking system Warning device shows system malfunction | 123,785 | 6.7% (95% CI 6.6–6.9) |
| Electronic stability control warning lamp — Electronic stability control warning lamp not working | 60,979 | 5.4% (95% CI 5.3–5.6) |
| Electronic braking system warning — Electronic braking system Warning device shows system malfunction | 4,043 | 0.59% (95% CI 0.4–0.9) |
These figures are a statistical association from the national MOT extracts. They are not a prediction about this car, and we have not inspected it. Counts are test records.
Engine management light · SRS / airbag warning light · Engine light: diesel vs petrol · OBD-II fault-code library · MOT prognosis registry · How these figures are calculated
Download the tables for edition 2026.1 from the dataset page.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024 and 2025 extracts (Class 4). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.