Despite their seemingly indestructible nature, unfortunately 4x4s aren’t incapable of failing an MOT. So, if you’re a 4x4 owner and with an MOT coming up soon, keep in mind some of these common problems that can cause MOT failures — then you’ll know what needs addressing before the big day arrives.
Many of the steps below can be avoided or remedied before your 4x4 even goes to the MOT centre, e.g. checking lights before you go or a new noise that wasn’t there last week.
Lighting
Lighting is a very common failure when it comes to 4x4 MOTs, but luckily it’s also one of the easiest issues to spot (if you have a blown bulb, the light won’t turn on!).
Make sure that you don’t forget the number plate light. If this is off, then other road users and the police won’t be able to read your number. If this isn’t working, you will fail!
It’s not only blown bulbs that might cause you to fail - extremely dirty or misty lights can also be seen as a hazard, so make sure you clean yours if you do a lot of off-roading as mud and dust may have covered them.
Suspension
4x4s tend to have some of the best suspension of all vehicles on the road, but it can also take quite the hammering - especially if you’re using its capabilities to the fullest!
Here’s how you can tell if you’ve got a problem with your vehicle’s suspension:
- Listen out for any noises that your vehicle makes during driving. Can you hear any clunks or creaks?
- Whilst your car is parked up, give it a thorough external inspection. Can you tell if it’s completely level, or is it slightly dipping on one side or the other?
Brakes
4x4s are some of the heaviest vehicles on the road, so your brakes have to work overtime to get the job done.
If you want to make sure that the brakes on your 4x4 will pass an MOT, make sure that you listen out for any squeaks or crunching noises when you use them - this could be a sign that the pads have worn away. You will also want to check if the car pulls to one side or the other when you come to a stop, as this will be an indication as to whether the brake wear is even or not.
Tyres
While 4x4s are often fitted with some of the most hard-wearing tyres on the market, they’re also likely to experience wear more quickly, so it’s important to check them thoroughly before you get your MOT.
The main thing you’re going to want to check is tread depth, and luckily there’s a neat little test that you can do to make sure you’re at or above the legal minimum.
Get a 20p coin and wedge it in your tyre’s tread. Can you still see the rim? If not, then this means your tread is above the 1.6mm minimum. However, if you can see that band on the coin’s face, this means your tyres aren’t road legal.
Field of view
All drivers are guilty of clogging up their field of view with sat navs, air fresheners and the like, but if you want to pass your MOT, we would recommend putting these items away, and if you have a chip or small crack in your windscreen that obstructs your line of sight, get it fixed as soon as possible!
Have you got an MOT coming up that you need to prepare for? At Milner Off Road, we’re the 4x4 experts, so if you need any parts for your vehicle, all you have to do is find them on our website. We offer same-day dispatch on our items to help you get what you need, when you need it, and our expert advisors are always on hand to help if you need further assistance.