Most Reliable Dacia Models: Real MOT Data Analysis
We analysed 180,123 real UK MOT tests to reveal which Dacia models pass most often, which years to buy, and which to avoid entirely.
180,123 MOT tests analysed
Real DVSA data covering every Dacia model from 2000-2023
Key Findings
Most Reliable Model
Dacia DUSTER
74.4% pass rate
Best Single Year
SANDERO STEPWAY SE TWENTY TCE 2020 Petrol
87.7% pass rate
Dacia vs National Average
72.0% vs 71.5%
+0.5% above average
Durability Champion
N/A
N/A
Dacia has built its reputation on reliability, but does the data back it up? We analysed 180,123 real MOT tests from the DVSA database to find out exactly which Dacia models live up to the hype and which ones fall short.
This isn't survey data or owner opinions. These are actual pass/fail results from UK garages, covering every Dacia model sold in the UK from 2000 to 2023.
How Dacia Compares to Rivals
Dacia ranks #44 out of 75 manufacturers with a 72.0% average MOT pass rate. That's above the national average of 71.5%:
| Manufacturer | Pass Rate | Rank | Tests Analysed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 74.0% | #31 | 1,606,300 |
| Volkswagen | 72.2% | #43 | 2,967,545 |
| Dacia | 72.0% | #44 | 180,123 |
| Nissan | 68.7% | #50 | 1,612,552 |
| Ford | 68.5% | #51 | 4,432,652 |
| Vauxhall | 65.4% | #59 | 3,038,498 |
The verdict: Toyota maintains a lead among competitors, while Dacia sits at #44. However, newer Dacia models significantly outperform this average.
Best Dacia Models by MOT Pass Rate
Looking at overall reliability across all years, here's how Dacia's core models rank against the 71.5% national average:
| Model | Pass Rate | vs National (71.5%) | Tests | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUSTER | 74.4% | +2.9% | 63,842 | 2013-2021 |
| LOGAN | 71.4% | -0.1% | 15,779 | 2013-2020 |
| SANDERO | 70.3% | -1.2% | 99,166 | 2013-2021 |
Durability Champions: Which Dacia Models Age Best?
Raw pass rates favour newer cars. This ranking compares each model against the national average for cars of the same age:
| Model | Year | Fuel | vs Same-Age Average | Trend | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUSTER | 2017 | Petrol | -3.3% | (79% at 5-6 years) | |
| SANDERO | 2020 | Petrol | -4.1% | (82% at 3-4 years) | |
| DUSTER | 2020 | Petrol | -4.5% | (82% at 3-4 years) | |
| DUSTER | 2017 | Diesel | -5.1% | (77% at 5-6 years) | |
| LOGAN | 2016 | Petrol | -5.6% | (77% at 5-6 years) | |
| DUSTER | 2016 | Petrol | -6.0% | (76% at 5-6 years) | |
| DUSTER | 2019 | Petrol | -6.0% | (80% at 3-4 years) | |
| DUSTER | 2018 | Diesel | -6.1% | (78% at 5-6 years) | |
| DUSTER | 2019 | Diesel | -6.9% | (80% at 3-4 years) | |
| LOGAN | 2016 | Diesel | -7.0% | (71% at 7-8 years) |
How to read this: A score of "+15%" means the model passes MOTs 15 percentage points more often than the average car of the same age.
Dacia SANDERO: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The SANDERO has 99,166 tests in our database with an overall 70.3% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 80.6% | -10.2% | 129 |
| 2020 | Petrol | 84.9% | -2.8% | 8,899 |
| 2019 | Diesel | 80.2% | -6.0% | 329 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 78.2% | -8.0% | 12,321 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 78.1% | -6.2% | 11,558 |
| 2018 | Diesel | 74.9% | -9.3% | 1,132 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 74.4% | -7.3% | 11,239 |
| 2017 | Diesel | 69.8% | -11.8% | 3,721 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 70.8% | -7.8% | 9,869 |
| 2016 | Diesel | 65.4% | -13.3% | 4,730 |
| 2015 | Petrol | 63.8% | -11.7% | 9,912 |
| 2015 | Diesel | 55.6% | -19.9% | 4,967 |
| ... | ||||
| 2015 | Diesel | 55.6% | -19.9% | 4,967 |
| 2014 | Diesel | 52.8% | -19.0% | 4,899 |
| 2013 | Diesel | 58.9% | -9.4% | 2,064 |
SANDERO verdict: Avoid the 2015 diesel (55.6%).
Avoid early SANDERO models
The 2015 diesel SANDERO has a 55.6% pass rate, failing MOTs more often than passing.
Dacia DUSTER: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The DUSTER has 63,842 tests in our database with an overall 74.4% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 88.3% | -2.5% | 248 |
| 2020 | Petrol | 84.4% | -3.3% | 7,112 |
| 2020 | Diesel | 80.0% | -7.7% | 789 |
| 2020 | Gas Bi-fuel | 79.8% | -7.9% | 341 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 80.4% | -5.8% | 12,893 |
| 2019 | Diesel | 79.6% | -6.7% | 1,972 |
| 2018 | Diesel | 79.0% | -5.2% | 3,018 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 76.8% | -7.4% | 5,624 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 78.8% | -2.8% | 2,320 |
| 2017 | Diesel | 77.0% | -4.7% | 4,116 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 74.4% | -4.3% | 1,127 |
| 2016 | Diesel | 72.8% | -5.9% | 5,949 |
| ... | ||||
| 2013 | Diesel | 59.0% | -9.2% | 6,007 |
| 2013 | Petrol | 56.9% | -11.4% | 622 |
DUSTER verdict: Avoid the 2013 diesel (59.0%).
Avoid early DUSTER models
The 2013 diesel DUSTER has a 59.0% pass rate, failing MOTs more often than passing.
Dacia LOGAN: Year-by-Year Breakdown
The LOGAN has 15,779 tests in our database with an overall 71.4% pass rate:
| Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | vs Same-Year Avg | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Petrol | 82.1% | -5.5% | 621 |
| 2020 | Diesel | 76.0% | -11.7% | 125 |
| 2019 | Petrol | 77.9% | -8.3% | 1,613 |
| 2019 | Diesel | 74.9% | -11.3% | 724 |
| 2018 | Petrol | 76.1% | -8.2% | 1,326 |
| 2018 | Diesel | 72.6% | -11.7% | 514 |
| 2017 | Petrol | 74.8% | -6.8% | 990 |
| 2017 | Diesel | 71.8% | -9.9% | 1,338 |
| 2016 | Petrol | 74.5% | -4.2% | 1,149 |
| 2016 | Diesel | 73.1% | -5.5% | 1,688 |
| 2015 | Petrol | 67.1% | -8.4% | 1,204 |
| 2015 | Diesel | 62.9% | -12.6% | 1,894 |
LOGAN verdict:
Dacia Hybrids vs Petrol vs Diesel
Dacia's fuel type comparison shows clear differences in reliability:
| Fuel Type | Average Pass Rate | vs National | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Bi-fuel | 79.8% | +8.3% | 341 |
| Petrol | 74.7% | +3.2% | 116,089 |
| Diesel | 66.6% | -4.9% | 62,357 |
Dacia Models to Avoid
Not all Dacias are reliable. These specific model/year combinations have failure rates well above average:
| Model | Year | Fuel | Pass Rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANDERO | 2015 | Diesel | 55.6% (-21.6% vs same-age) | 4,967 |
| SANDERO | 2014 | Diesel | 52.8% (-22.0% vs same-age) | 4,899 |
| SANDERO | 2016 | Diesel | 65.4% (-14.9% vs same-age) | 4,730 |
| LOGAN | 2015 | Diesel | 62.9% (-14.3% vs same-age) | 1,894 |
| SANDERO | 2017 | Diesel | 69.8% (-12.3% vs same-age) | 3,721 |
| LOGAN | 2018 | Diesel | 72.6% | 514 |
| SANDERO | 2015 | Petrol | 63.8% (-13.4% vs same-age) | 9,912 |
| DUSTER | 2013 | Petrol | 56.9% (-14.3% vs same-age) | 622 |
| LOGAN | 2019 | Diesel | 74.9% | 724 |
| DUSTER | 2014 | Petrol | 61.6% (-13.8% vs same-age) | 609 |
Pattern to avoid
Early 2014-2017 diesel/petrol SANDEROs, 2015-2019 diesel LOGANs, 2013-2014 petrol DUSTERs are the models that drag down Dacia's average. These vehicles fail MOTs more often than they pass.
What Goes Wrong on Dacias?
When Dacias fail MOTs, these are the most common causes:
| Failure Category | Total Failures |
|---|---|
| 1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 21,884 |
| 2. Visibility | 12,351 |
| 3. Suspension | 10,290 |
| 4. Brakes | 9,766 |
| 5. Tyres | 8,801 |
| 6. Body, chassis, structure | 6,628 |
| 7. Noise, emissions and leaks | 2,653 |
Pre-MOT checklist for Dacia owners:
- Check all bulbs (number plate lights are commonly missed)
- Clean windscreen and check wiper blade condition
- Inspect suspension bushes and anti-roll bar links
- Check brake pad thickness and disc condition
- Ensure tyres meet 1.6mm tread requirement
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Buying Recommendations
Best If Buying Nearly New
2019-2023 models with highest early pass rates
- Limited data for recent models
Note: Long-term durability not yet proven for these newer models
Best If Buying Used (Proven)
11+ years of proven durability data
- Limited proven durability data available
Dacia Models to Avoid (Proven Poor)
Proven below average at 11+ years - not just old, genuinely problematic
- No major proven reliability concerns
About This Data
This analysis uses real MOT test results from the DVSA database, covering 180,123 tests on Dacia vehicles between 2000 and 2023.
Year-Adjusted Scoring (v2.1): In year-by-year breakdowns, each vehicle is compared against the national average for vehicles of the same model year. This removes the natural bias where newer cars pass more often, allowing fair comparisons across eras.
Evidence-Tiered Durability: We separate "proven durability" (vehicles tested at 11+ years old) from "early performers" (3-6 years old). Only vehicles with proven long-term data are used for durability claims. Age-band comparisons use weighted national averages.
Minimum thresholds: 500 tests for proven durability rankings, 1,000 tests for early performer rankings. Pass rates are calculated as first-time passes, excluding retests.
The overall national average MOT pass rate is 71.51% based on 32.3 million tests across all manufacturers. Year-specific averages range from ~59% (2009 vehicles) to ~88% (2020 vehicles).
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