The MOT Files

Section 2 · Steering

2.1.5 Power steering

Manual indexed

Quick answer

Sub-section 2.1.5 of the MOT inspection manual covers power steering and lists 13 defects, 5 of them Dangerous. A reference like "(2.1.5 (a))" on a certificate points to the matching row below. The most recorded is "Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning", about 0.0 times per 100 failed tests.

Official wording

The defect clauses

  1. 2.1.5 (a)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails

    Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning

    Power steering fluid leaking or below minimum explained: what it means and what puts it right

  2. 2.1.5 (b)(i)Minor

    Power steering fluid level below minimum mark

    Power steering fluid leaking or below minimum explained: what it means and what puts it right

  3. 2.1.5 (b)(ii)Major

    Power steering fluid reservoir empty

  4. 2.1.5 (c)(i)Major

    Power steering inoperative

    Power steering warning lamp on, or assistance not working explained: what it means and what puts it right

  5. 2.1.5 (c)(ii)Dangerous

    Power steering inoperative and steering adversely affected

    Power steering warning lamp on, or assistance not working explained: what it means and what puts it right

  6. 2.1.5 (d)(i)Major

    Power steering component fractured or insecure

  7. 2.1.5 (d)(ii)Dangerous

    Power steering component fractured or insecure and steering adversely affected

  8. 2.1.5 (e)(i)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails

    Power steering component fouling or misaligned

  9. 2.1.5 (e)(ii)Dangerous

    Power steering component fouling or misaligned and steering adversely affected

  10. 2.1.5 (f)(i)Major

    Power steering component with an unsafe modification

  11. 2.1.5 (f)(ii)Dangerous

    Power steering component modified and steering adversely affected

  12. 2.1.5 (g)(i)Major

    Power steering pipe, hose or wiring excessively damaged or corroded

    Power steering fluid leaking or below minimum explained: what it means and what puts it right

  13. 2.1.5 (g)(ii)Dangerous

    Power steering pipe, hose or wiring damaged or corroded and steering adversely affected

    Power steering fluid leaking or below minimum explained: what it means and what puts it right

Wording and categories reproduced from the DVSA inspection manual under the Open Government Licence. Frequencies are items per 100 failed class 4 tests across the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset; a clause with no figure was not recorded often enough to appear in any model’s top forty failure items. 6 of 13 clauses link to our own explanation.

Grading

What the categories mean

Dangerous
a direct and immediate risk to road safety or the environment. The vehicle fails and must not be driven until repaired, even to a garage.
Major
a defect that affects safety, the environment or other road users. The vehicle fails.
Minor
a defect with no significant effect on safety or the environment. Recorded on the certificate; the vehicle passes.

The full guide to defect grading

Section 2

Other sub-sections of steering

All sections of the manual

Common questions

What does 2.1.5 mean on an MOT certificate?
It refers to sub-section 2.1.5 of the MOT inspection manual, "Power steering", within section 2, steering. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 13 listed here. 5 of them are graded Dangerous, 7 Major and 1 Minor.
Which power steering defect is recorded most often?
"Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning" (2.1.5 (a)), recorded about 0.0 times per 100 failed MOT tests nationally. We explain what it means and what puts it right.
Does a Minor defect fail the MOT?
No. a defect with no significant effect on safety or the environment. Recorded on the certificate; the vehicle passes. Major and Dangerous defects fail. A Dangerous defect also means the car must not be driven until it is repaired.