Is the Dacia Sandero reliable?

On MOT evidence the Dacia Sandero is well below average. It passes 64.4% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%. That figure covers 78% of the national age and mileage range, which is enough to quote but not to rank. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Dacia Sandero?

The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 22.7% of failed Dacia Sandero tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Dacia Sandero?

The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 22.6% of all Dacia Sandero tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Dacia Sandero usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 49,733 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Which Dacia Sandero years are the most reliable?

Going by MOT pass rate, Dacia Sandero cars first registered 2020–2022 do best at 85.1%, and those registered 2011–2013 do worst at 57.8%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.

Does a Dacia Sandero get harder to pass as it ages?

Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 85.1% of Dacia Sandero tests pass. By 12 to 14 years, that falls to 57.8%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

Are most Dacia Sandero models petrol or diesel?

Of the Dacia Sandero cars tested, 79% are petrol, 18% are diesel, 3% are petrol and gas bi-fuel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Dacia Sandero MOT pass rate & common failures

From 117,865 recorded MOT tests of the Dacia Sandero, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

The Dacia Sandero passes 64.4% of MOT tests once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, against a national average of 72.3%. That is well below average. Based on 117,865 tests. Its most commonly recorded failure is spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which appears in 22.7% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 49,733 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

64.4%national average72.3%unadjusted69.1%range covered78%

The Sandero is 7.9 percentage points below the national pass rate once age and mileage are accounted for, which is well below average. The unadjusted figure is 69.1%; the difference is what the age and mileage of this model’s fleet was hiding.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Dacia Sandero tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened22.7%
6,412 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
2.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc17.8%
5,027 occurrencesDriveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained
3.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen11.5%
3,255 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
4.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements11.3%
3,174 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.3%
2,614 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
6.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.5%
2,385 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
7.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements7.2%
2,040 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
8.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen6.1%
1,729 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
9.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play5.8%
1,626 occurrencesBall joint worn explained
10.Audible warning inoperative5.7%
1,619 occurrencesHorn not working, or of the wrong type explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Dacia Sandero tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.A tyre seriously damaged22.6%
26,657 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements20.4%
24,059 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
3.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.7%
12,578 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
4.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm6.5%
7,613 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
5.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn4.1%
4,826 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
6.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn3.3%
3,844 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
7.Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.8%
3,279 tests
8.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements2.6%
3,043 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Dacia Sandero

The 17 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

Known faults

Dacia Sandero common problems, by part and by year

The same failure record read the way a buyer asks the question: which parts wear out on a Sandero, when they start, and how each registration year compares — including the steps that mark a generation change.

Sandero common problems and results by year

How wear changes the picture

Sandero pass rate by age and registration year

How often the Dacia Sandero passes at each age, with the years those cars were first registered. Tests are from 2025, so a car aged 3 to 5 was first used in 2020–2022.

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202285%

6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201971%

9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201657%

12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201358%

Read this as an age curve rather than a verdict on particular model years. Nearly every car passes less often as it gets older, so a newer Sandero outscoring an older one says more about wear than about how that year’s cars were built. Bands holding too few tests to be meaningful are omitted rather than shown as a rate.

What gets tested

The Sandero fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 49,733
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol79.2%
Diesel17.8%
Petrol and gas bi-fuel2.9%

Trim names grouped into this model (32)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

SANDERO ACCESS SCE
SANDERO COMFORT LPG TCE
SANDERO COMFORT SCE
SANDERO COMFORT TCE
SANDERO COMFORT TCE CVT
SANDERO ESSENTIAL LPG TCE
SANDERO ESSENTIAL SCE
SANDERO ESSENTIAL TCE
SANDERO EXPRESSION LPG TCE
SANDERO EXPRESSION TCE
SANDERO EXPRESSION TCE AUTO
SANDERO STEPWAY
SANDERO STEPWAY AMBIANCE TCE
SANDERO STEPWAY COMFORT TCE
SANDERO STEPWAY ESSENTIAL TCE
SANDERO STEPWAY EXPRESSION TCE
SANDERO STEPWAY EXTREME TCE
SANDERO STEPWAY EXTREME TCE A
SANDERO STEPWAY EXTRME LPG TCE
SANDERO STEPWAY JOURNEY TCE
SANDERO STEPWAY JOURNEY TCE A
SANDERO STEPWAY PRESTIGE TCE
SANDERO STEPWAY SE TWENTY TCE
SANDERO STPWAY COMFORT LPG TCE
SANDERO STPWAY EXPRSSION TCE A
SANDERO STPWAY EXPRSSN LPG TCE
SANDERO STPWAY JOURNEY LPG TCE
SANDERO SWAY COMFORT TCE CVT
SANDERO SWAY ESSENTIAL LPG TCE
SANDERO SWAY PRESTIGE LPG TCE
SANDERO SWAY PRESTIGE TCE CVT
SANDERO SWAY SE TWENTY LPG TCE

Check a specific Dacia Sandero

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Dacia models

Dacia Duster — 66.7% adjusted
Dacia Logan — 72.6% adjusted
Dacia Jogger — 84.3% unadjusted
All Dacia models

Similar test volumes

Compare against other makes

Audi Q5 — 81.6% adjusted, ranked 42
Volvo XC60 — 79.1% adjusted, ranked 62
Land Rover Defender — 74.4% adjusted, ranked 117
Land Rover Discovery Sport — 81.9% adjusted, ranked 40

Common questions

Is the Dacia Sandero reliable?: On MOT evidence the Dacia Sandero is well below average. It passes 64.4% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%. That figure covers 78% of the national age and mileage range, which is enough to quote but not to rank. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Dacia Sandero?: The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 22.7% of failed Dacia Sandero tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Dacia Sandero?: The most common advisory is "A tyre seriously damaged", noted on 22.6% of all Dacia Sandero tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Dacia Sandero usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 49,733 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Which Dacia Sandero years are the most reliable?: Going by MOT pass rate, Dacia Sandero cars first registered 2020–2022 do best at 85.1%, and those registered 2011–2013 do worst at 57.8%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.
Does a Dacia Sandero get harder to pass as it ages?: Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 85.1% of Dacia Sandero tests pass. By 12 to 14 years, that falls to 57.8%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.
Are most Dacia Sandero models petrol or diesel?: Of the Dacia Sandero cars tested, 79% are petrol, 18% are diesel, 3% are petrol and gas bi-fuel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. The adjusted rate is directly standardised across twenty-five age and mileage bands and reweighted onto the national distribution, so this model is compared against cars that have lived a similar life rather than against a younger or lighter-used fleet.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.