What does 2.3 mean on an MOT certificate?

It refers to sub-section 2.3 of the MOT inspection manual, "Steering play", within section 2, steering. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 2 listed here. 1 of them is graded Dangerous, 1 Major and 0 Minor.

Which steering play defect is recorded most often?

"Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive" (2.3 (a)(i)), recorded about 0.0 times per 100 failed MOT tests nationally.

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.

Section 2 · Steering

2.3 Steering play

Manual indexed 3 September 2026

Quick answer

Sub-section 2.3 of the MOT inspection manual covers steering play and lists 2 defects, 1 of them Dangerous. A reference like "(2.3 (a)(i))" on a certificate points to the matching row below. The most recorded is "Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive", about 0.0 times per 100 failed tests.

Official wording

The defect clauses

2.3 (a)(i)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails
Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive
2.3 (a)(ii)Dangerousunder 0.1 per 100 fails
Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive to the extent that safe steering is affected

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. 0 of 2 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

2.1.1Steering gear condition
2.1.2Steering gear security
2.1.3Steering linkage condition
2.1.4Steering linkage operation
2.1.5Power steering
2.2.1Steering wheel or handlebar condition
2.2.2Steering column or forks and yokes
2.6Electronic power steering (EPS)

All sections of the manual

Common questions

What does 2.3 mean on an MOT certificate?: It refers to sub-section 2.3 of the MOT inspection manual, "Steering play", within section 2, steering. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 2 listed here. 1 of them is graded Dangerous, 1 Major and 0 Minor.
Which steering play defect is recorded most often?: "Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive" (2.3 (a)(i)), recorded about 0.0 times per 100 failed MOT tests nationally.
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.