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Dacia
Reliability

Dacia has a 70.0% MOT pass rate across 193,710 tests, sitting just below the national average.

70.0% MOT pass rate based on 194,000 tests.

Common faults and reliability ranked across 3 Dacia models.

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  • Outstanding finance check
  • Stolen marker check
  • Write-off and salvage history
  • Full MOT history and mileage
  • Safety recall check
  • Vehicle valuation
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Are Dacia cars reliable?

70.0%
MOT pass rate
vs 72.4% national average

Dacia vs other premium brands

Dacia sits just below the 72.4% national average at 70.0%. As a brand that launched in the UK in 2013, its fleet is relatively young, with most Dacia vehicles on the road under 12 years old.

The brand's value-focused positioning means these are affordable, no-frills vehicles, and the data suggests they hold up reasonably well for the price point. Across 193,710 tests in 2025, Dacia finishes fractionally behind the national curve.

Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.

What is the Dacia MOT pass rate by age?

Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.

At 3 years old, Dacia vehicles pass at 87.5% vs 88.5% national, essentially in line. The gap widens quickly. By age 6, Dacia sits at 72.7% vs 83.5% national, a gap of nearly 11 percentage points. From age 10 onwards, Dacia typically passes at 13 to 15 points below the national curve.

Dacia launched in the UK in 2013, so there are very few Dacia vehicles over 12 years old on the road. Test volumes drop below 30 for ages 13 and above, so the chart is capped at 12 to keep the figures meaningful.

What are the most common Dacia faults?

Top 10 MOT failure categories for Dacia, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.

Top 5 specific Dacia failure reasons

These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Dacia vehicles, along with what they mean.

  1. Not working (6.95% of Dacia failures)

    A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.

  2. Fractured or broken (6.35% of Dacia failures)

    A suspension arm, spring, or bracket has snapped or cracked. The affected part must be replaced before the vehicle is roadworthy.

  3. Constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (4.85% of Dacia failures)
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.73% of Dacia failures)

    One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.

  5. Does not clear the windscreen effectively (4.69% of Dacia failures)

Dacia's fault profile is broadly in line with national patterns. Lamps and electrical leads at 23.46%, followed by suspension at 16.77%, notably below the 20.65% national average, which may reflect the young fleet age. Visibility at 15.43% (vs 11.71% national) is elevated. Brakes at 14.95% is slightly above the 12.99% national. No single fault category stands out as unusual for Dacia.

Which Dacia models are most reliable?

Top 15 Dacia models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.

ModelTestsPass rateMost common failure
Dacia Sandero85,14164.8%Suspension
Dacia Duster63,64369.7%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Dacia Logan13,21468.1%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

Only three Dacia models meet the 5,000-test threshold: the Sandero at 64.76% (85,141 tests), the Duster at 69.67% (63,643 tests), and the Logan at 68.09% (13,214 tests). The Sandero is the highest-volume model but has the lowest pass rate of the three. The Duster performs best. The compact model range reflects Dacia's value-focused strategy rather than a data gap, as the brand simply does not offer many variants in the UK.

How many miles do Dacia vehicles typically cover?

Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.

Dacia vehicles typically cover fewer miles than the national average at every age band. At age 6, Dacia averages 42,637 miles vs 49,771 national. By age 10, the gap grows to 74,205 vs 79,891. This may reflect the brand's positioning as a runabout or second family car rather than a primary commuter.

Because Dacia launched in the UK in 2013, mileage data for vehicles older than 12 years is based on very small samples. Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies.

Are there any Dacia safety recalls?

Safety recalls are issued by Dacia when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.

Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Dacia via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.

How do you check a Dacia's full history?

Before you buy any used Dacia, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.

Has this Dacia been written off?

An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.

Is there outstanding finance on this Dacia?

If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.

Has this Dacia been reported stolen?

The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.

Has the mileage been tampered with?

Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.

Has this Dacia been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?

Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.

What is this Dacia worth?

The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.

Check any Dacia's full history for £9.99. No subscription.

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What should you check before buying a used Dacia?

Four practical steps before you hand over any money.

  1. 1

    Check the MOT history

    Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.

  2. 2

    Check the vehicle's full history

    A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.

  3. 3

    Compare insurance before you commit

    Dacia insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.

  4. 4

    Check the tax status

    Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.

Dacia Reliability FAQs

Dacia vehicles have a 70.0% MOT pass rate based on 193,710 tests in the 2025 test year, just below the 72.4% national average. As a brand that launched in the UK in 2013, Dacia has a young fleet, most vehicles on the road are under 12 years old.
The Duster leads the Dacia range at 69.67% pass rate (63,643 tests). The Logan follows at 68.09% (13,214 tests). Both perform close to the national average.
The Sandero is the weakest at 64.76% pass rate (85,141 tests). The Sandero is Dacia's highest-volume model, so its figure has significant weight in the brand average.
The most common MOT failure categories for Dacia are lamps and electrical equipment (23.46% of failures), suspension (16.77%), visibility (15.43%), and brakes (14.95%). No single fault category stands out as unusual for Dacia. Suspension is notably below the 20.65% national average, which may reflect the young fleet.
The Duster passes at 69.67% based on 63,643 tests, close to but just below the 72.4% national average. The Duster is Dacia's best-performing model.
Yes, on MOT data. Dacia passes at 70.0% vs Renault at 62.4%. Dacia is owned by Renault and shares platforms and mechanicals with several Renault models, but the simpler Dacia specification typically means fewer electronic components to fail. See our vehicle history check to see how any specific Dacia has fared.
Check the vehicle's full history for outstanding finance, write-offs, stolen markers, and mileage discrepancies before committing. A vehicle history check costs £9.99 via Brumble.
Dacia typically sits in low insurance groups, the Sandero starts from around group 3 and the Duster from around group 8. Insurance groups are set by Thatcham Research based on repair costs, performance, safety, and security. See our car insurance groups guide for more detail.
The top MOT failure categories for Dacia are lamps and electrical equipment (23.46%), suspension (16.77%), visibility (15.43%), brakes (14.95%), and tyres (11.39%). You can check any Dacia's MOT history for free using the Brumble MOT checker.
A Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble checks outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, MOT history, safety recalls, and more. Reports cost £9.99 with no subscription.

Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.