Dacia Duster: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Dacia Duster passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 2.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 67,139 individual Dacia Duster tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate79.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+2.9 points
Tests analysed67,139
Average mileage at test52,146 miles
Average year of manufacture2017
Reliability rank1,453 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 79.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 20 in every 100 Dacia Dusters presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Dacia Duster tested had covered 52,146 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Dacia Duster sits 2.9 points above the national average, ranked 1,453 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Dacia Duster rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Dacia Duster: £450 at UK salvage auction, from 10 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Dacia Duster

  1. Audible warning inoperative, 1% of tests (3.49x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.1% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this defect)
  3. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 2.1% of tests (1.67x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.1% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 2.9% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.1% of tests (1.36x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.2% of tests
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.4% of tests
  10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.8% of tests

From 67,066 DVSA-tracked Dacia Duster tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.45% of these flagged Dacia Duster defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Dacia Duster

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Dacia Duster before it actually fails on it.

  1. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 9% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.3% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 1.7% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 18.5% of tests (1.2x the national rate for this advisory)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 26.5% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.6% of tests
  7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 6% of tests
  8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 5.2% of tests
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.7% of tests, also fails
  10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3% of tests

From 67,066 DVSA-tracked Dacia Duster tests, 2024.

Dacia Duster pass rate by model year

From its 2013 to its 2021 model year, the Dacia Duster's first-time pass rate has risen 24.2 points, from 65.8% to 90%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Dacia Duster year:

Dacia Duster by fuel type

The Dacia Duster's two most-tested fuel types split by 10.4 points: petrol passes first time 85.1% of the time (33,654 tests) against 74.7% for diesel (33,206 tests).

Other Dacia models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Dacia Duster MOT pass rate badge: 79.6%

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Dacia Duster most common MOT failure: Audible warning inoperative (1% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate