What does 5.3.1 mean on an MOT certificate?

It refers to sub-section 5.3.1 of the MOT inspection manual, "Springs", within section 5, axles, wheels, tyres and suspension. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 8 listed here. 4 of them are graded Dangerous, 4 Major and 0 Minor.

Which springs defect is recorded most often?

"A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened" (5.3.1 (b)(i)), recorded about 11.8 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.

Section 5 · Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension

5.3.1 Springs

Manual indexed 3 September 2026

Quick answer

Sub-section 5.3.1 of the MOT inspection manual covers springs and lists 8 defects, 4 of them Dangerous. A reference like "(5.3.1 (a)(i))" on a certificate points to the matching row below. The most recorded is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", about 11.8 times per 100 failed tests.

Official wording

The defect clauses

5.3.1 (a)(i)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails
A spring insecurely attached to chassis or axle
5.3.1 (a)(ii)Dangerous
A spring with fixings loose to the extent that relative movement is visible
5.3.1 (b)(i)Major11.8 per 100 fails
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Road spring broken or fractured explained: what it means and what puts it right
5.3.1 (b)(ii)Dangerousunder 0.1 per 100 fails
A spring main leaf fractured
5.3.1 (c)(i)Major
A spring missing
5.3.1 (c)(ii)Dangerous
A spring missing and directional control affected
5.3.1 (d)(i)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails
A spring with an unsafe modification
5.3.1 (d)(ii)Dangerous
A spring modified so that the suspension is inoperative

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. 1 of 8 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 5

Other sub-sections of axles, wheels, tyres and suspension

5.1.1Axles
5.1.2Stub axles
5.1.3Wheel bearings
5.2.1Road wheel and hub
5.2.2Road wheel condition
5.2.3Tyres
5.3.2Shock absorbers
5.3.3Suspension arms, rods, struts, sub-frames, anti-roll bars etc.
5.3.4Suspension joints, pins and bushes
5.3.5Gas, air and fluid suspension
5.3.6Complete suspension system

All sections of the manual

Common questions

What does 5.3.1 mean on an MOT certificate?: It refers to sub-section 5.3.1 of the MOT inspection manual, "Springs", within section 5, axles, wheels, tyres and suspension. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 8 listed here. 4 of them are graded Dangerous, 4 Major and 0 Minor.
Which springs defect is recorded most often?: "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened" (5.3.1 (b)(i)), recorded about 11.8 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.