Section 5 · Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension
5.3.6 Complete suspension system
Manual indexed
Quick answer
Sub-section 5.3.6 of the MOT inspection manual covers complete suspension system and lists 3 defects, 1 of them Dangerous. A reference like "(5.3.6 (a)(i))" on a certificate points to the matching row below. The most recorded is "The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a ’prescribed area’) is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired", about 3.2 times per 100 failed tests.
Official wording
The defect clauses
- 5.3.6 (a)(i)Major3.2 per 100 fails
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a ’prescribed area’) is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Suspension mounting corroded or insecure explained: what it means and what puts it right
- 5.3.6 (a)(ii)Dangerousunder 0.1 per 100 fails
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a ’prescribed area’) is so weakened that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected
Suspension mounting corroded or insecure explained: what it means and what puts it right
- 5.3.6 (b)Major
Suspension retaining or locking device ineffective or missing
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. 2 of 3 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.
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
- 5.3.1Springs
- 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
Common questions
- What does 5.3.6 mean on an MOT certificate?
- It refers to sub-section 5.3.6 of the MOT inspection manual, "Complete suspension system", 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 3 listed here. 1 of them is graded Dangerous, 2 Major and 0 Minor.
- Which complete suspension system defect is recorded most often?
- "The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a ’prescribed area’) is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired" (5.3.6 (a)(i)), recorded about 3.2 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.