The MOT Files

Section 2 · Steering

2.2.1 Steering wheel or handlebar condition

Manual indexed

Quick answer

Sub-section 2.2.1 of the MOT inspection manual covers steering wheel or handlebar condition and lists 12 defects, 6 of them Dangerous. A reference like "(2.2.1 (a)(i))" on a certificate points to the matching row below. The most recorded is "Relative movement between steering wheel and column indicating looseness", about 0.0 times per 100 failed tests.

Official wording

The defect clauses

  1. 2.2.1 (a)(i)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails

    Relative movement between steering wheel and column indicating looseness

    Steering wheel or column insecure explained: what it means and what puts it right

  2. 2.2.1 (a)(ii)Dangerous

    Relative movement between steering wheel and column such that there is a serious risk of detachment

    Steering wheel or column insecure explained: what it means and what puts it right

  3. 2.2.1 (b)(i)Major

    Steering wheel retaining device missing

    Steering wheel or column insecure explained: what it means and what puts it right

  4. 2.2.1 (b)(ii)Dangerous

    Steering wheel likely to become detached

    Steering wheel or column insecure explained: what it means and what puts it right

  5. 2.2.1 (c)(i)Major

    Steering wheel rim or spokes fractured or loose

    Steering wheel or column insecure explained: what it means and what puts it right

  6. 2.2.1 (c)(ii)Dangerous

    Steering wheel rim or spokes likely to become detached

    Steering wheel or column insecure explained: what it means and what puts it right

  7. 2.2.1 (d)(i)Major

    Handlebar fractured or insecure

  8. 2.2.1 (d)(ii)Dangerous

    Handlebar fractured or insecure to the extent that steering is adversely affected or detachment likely

  9. 2.2.1 (e)(i)Major

    Handlebar excessively deformed or corroded

    Corrosion in a structural area explained: what it means and what puts it right

  10. 2.2.1 (e)(ii)Dangerous

    Handlebar deformed or corroded to the extent that steering is adversely affected or failure likely

    Corrosion in a structural area explained: what it means and what puts it right

  11. 2.2.1 (f)(i)Major

    Handlebar handgrips missing

  12. 2.2.1 (f)(ii)Dangerous

    Handlebar handgrips insecure to handlebar

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. 8 of 12 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 2.2.1 mean on an MOT certificate?
It refers to sub-section 2.2.1 of the MOT inspection manual, "Steering wheel or handlebar condition", within section 2, steering. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 12 listed here. 6 of them are graded Dangerous, 6 Major and 0 Minor.
Which steering wheel or handlebar condition defect is recorded most often?
"Relative movement between steering wheel and column indicating looseness" (2.2.1 (a)(i)), 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.