The MOT Files

Section 7 · Other equipment

7.12 Electronic stability control (ESC)

Manual indexed

Quick answer

Sub-section 7.12 of the MOT inspection manual covers electronic stability control (esc) and lists 5 defects. A reference like "(7.12 (a))" on a certificate points to the matching row below. The most recorded is "ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction", about 0.5 times per 100 failed tests.

Official wording

The defect clauses

  1. 7.12 (a)Majorunder 0.1 per 100 fails

    Wheel speed sensors missing or damaged

    Road wheel damaged, distorted or cracked explained: what it means and what puts it right

  2. 7.12 (b)Major

    ESC wiring damaged

  3. 7.12 (c)Major

    Other ESC component missing or damaged

  4. 7.12 (d)Major

    ESC switch damaged or not functioning correctly

  5. 7.12 (e)Major0.5 per 100 fails

    ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction

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 5 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 7

Other sub-sections of other equipment

All sections of the manual

Common questions

What does 7.12 mean on an MOT certificate?
It refers to sub-section 7.12 of the MOT inspection manual, "Electronic stability control (ESC)", within section 7, other equipment. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 5 listed here. 5 Major and 0 Minor.
Which electronic stability control (esc) defect is recorded most often?
"ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction" (7.12 (e)), recorded about 0.5 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.