Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Dacia Sandero 2014: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2014 Dacia Sandero include Linkage pins and bushes (front) (~29.5× peers) and Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) (~19.1× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (5,340 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

5,340 failed first-attempt tests · 11,590 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Linkage pins and bushes (front) — about 29.5× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

Linkage pins and bushes (front): about 29.5× more often than similar cars
Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front): about 19.1× more often than similar cars
Electrical equipment — Horn: about 9.6× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 5,340 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Linkage pins and bushes (front)

This failure pattern appears about 29.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 293 failed first-attempt tests; 5.5% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 293 failures · ×29.5 vs similar cars · 5.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front)

This failure pattern appears about 19.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 155 failed first-attempt tests; 2.9% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 155 failures · ×19.1 vs similar cars · 2.9% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Electrical equipment — Horn

This failure pattern appears about 9.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 577 failed first-attempt tests; 10.8% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 577 failures · ×9.6 vs similar cars · 10.8% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

#	Fault pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Linkage pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes	Front	293	×29.5	5.5%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2	Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage	Front	155	×19.1	2.9%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3	Electrical equipment — Horn Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Electrical equipment > Horn	Any	577	×9.6	10.8%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4	Drive shafts — Joints Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Drive shafts > Joints	Any	122	×5.7	2.3%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5	Service brake performance (rear) Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Plate brake tester > Service brake performance	Rear	116	×4.8	2.2%	Likely common fault pattern
6	Drive shafts — Joints (front) Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Drive shafts > Joints	Front	935	×4.5	17.5%	Likely common fault pattern
7	Service brake performance (rear) Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance	Rear	399	×3.2	7.5%	Likely common fault pattern
8	Coil spring (front) Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring	Front	949	×2.7	17.8%	Possible elevated fault
9	Registration plate lamp(s) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Registration plate lamp(s)	Any	340	×2.3	6.4%	Possible elevated fault
10	Ball joint (front) Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint	Front	692	×2.1	13.0%	Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Wear patterns

These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.

#	Pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Brake discs (front) Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs	Front	211	×2.1	4.0%	Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

#	Advisory pattern	Location	Notes	vs similar cars	Share	Confidence
1	Linkage pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes	Front	360	×19.9	6.7%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2	Pipes and hoses Steering > Power steering > Pipes and hoses	Any	50	×9.2	0.9%	Elevated vs peers
3	Pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes	Front	87	×8.6	1.6%	Likely common fault pattern
4	Individual direction indicators (front) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators	Front	37	×5.4	0.7%	Possible elevated fault
5	Integral vehicle structure condition Body, chassis, structure > Integral vehicle structure > Integral vehicle structure condition	Any	31	×4.9	0.6%	Elevated vs peers
6	Macpherson strut (front) Suspension > Macpherson strut > Macpherson strut	Front	87	×3.9	1.6%	Elevated vs peers
7	Service brake performance (rear) Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Plate brake tester > Service brake performance	Rear	79	×3.4	1.5%	Likely common fault pattern
8	Brake fluid Brakes > Hydraulic systems > Brake fluid	Any	25	×3.0	0.5%	Elevated vs peers

FAQs

Is the 2014 Dacia Sandero reliable?

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2014 Dacia Sandero on this page. Among 5,340 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Linkage pins and bushes (front) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 29.5× more often than peers; 293 observed failures; 5.5% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.

What common MOT faults stand out on the Dacia Sandero 2014?

Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Linkage pins and bushes (front) (about 29.5× more often than peers; 293 observed failures; 5.5% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.

Why does Linkage pins and bushes (front) stand out?

Linkage pins and bushes (front) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 29.5× more often than peers; 293 observed failures; 5.5% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.

What are common problems with the 2014 Dacia Sandero?

Common MOT problem areas for the 2014 Dacia Sandero include Linkage pins and bushes (front), Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front), Electrical equipment — Horn. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.

How should I read advisories vs fails?

Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.

What does this Dacia Sandero 2014 MOT report cover?

This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2014 Dacia Sandero (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.

Does this include engine and gearbox problems?

No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

What is PRS, and why does it count as a fail?

PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Dacia (separate from this model-year report).