The MOT Files

Section 5 · Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension

5.3.4 Suspension joints, pins and bushes

Manual indexed

Quick answer

Sub-section 5.3.4 of the MOT inspection manual covers suspension joints, pins and bushes and lists 4 defects, 1 of them Dangerous. A reference like "(5.3.4 (a)(i))" on a certificate points to the matching row below. The most recorded is "A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.", about 7.6 times per 100 failed tests.

Official wording

The defect clauses

  1. 5.3.4 (a)(i)Major0.2 per 100 fails

    A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing excessively worn

    Suspension arm bush worn explained: what it means and what puts it right

  2. 5.3.4 (a)(ii)Dangerous

    A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing likely to become detached

  3. 5.3.4 (b)(i)Minor

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    Suspension joint dust cover missing or split explained: what it means and what puts it right

  4. 5.3.4 (b)(ii)Major7.6 per 100 fails

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.

    Suspension joint dust cover missing or split 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. 3 of 4 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

All sections of the manual

Common questions

What does 5.3.4 mean on an MOT certificate?
It refers to sub-section 5.3.4 of the MOT inspection manual, "Suspension joints, pins and bushes", 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 4 listed here. 1 of them is graded Dangerous, 2 Major and 1 Minor.
Which suspension joints, pins and bushes defect is recorded most often?
"A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc." (5.3.4 (b)(ii)), recorded about 7.6 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.