How long do shock absorbers last?

Per 100 MOT tests

Shock absorbers: failures and advisories by car age

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–2022

0.3

1.8

6–8 yrsreg. 2017–2019

0.6

3.4

9–11 yrsreg. 2014–2016

1.3

5.4

12–14 yrsreg. 2011–2013

1.9

6.8

15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier

2.2

7.5

Items recorded per 100 class 4 tests at each age, across the whole fleet. Advisories run ahead of failures: the tester saw the part wearing and said so a year or two before it failed. Peak band highlighted.

DVSA recorded wording

What the tester writes

• “A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage”peaks at 15+ yrs · 1.6 per 100 tests
• “A shock absorber bush excessively worn”peaks at 12–14 yrs · 0.3 per 100 tests
• “A shock absorber which has negligible damping effect”peaks at 15+ yrs · 0.3 per 100 tests

When it fails

The defects behind it, explained

• Shock absorber defective

Suspension

Other parts in the same system

• Suspension bushesfrom 12–14 yrs
• Coil springsfrom 9–11 yrs

Every part, every age

Common questions

How long do shock absorbers last?

Across the British fleet, shock absorbers barely fail before 9 to 11 years: 0.3 failures per 100 tests at three to five years, rising to 2.2 at 15 years and older, 7 times the rate. Seals wear and the damper leaks fluid or loses its action; failure is for a leak or no damping, not for being tired.

At what age should I have shock absorbers checked?

From about 9 to 11 years, when failures reach half their peak rate across the fleet. Advisories for shock absorbers run ahead of failures by a year or two, so a car whose MOT history shows one is on the curve.

Is a worn shock absorber an MOT failure?

It depends on how worn. "Shock absorber defective" is the defect testers record; each page explains the threshold at which the item fails rather than being advised.