Section 5
Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension
Wheels, tyre tread and structure, axles, suspension and shock absorbers.
73
defect codes in this section
31 Dangerous39 Major3 Minor
5.1 Axles
5.1.1.aAxlesAxlesDangerous5.1.1.b.iAxlesAxlesMajor5.1.1.b.iiAxlesAxlesDangerous5.1.1.c.iAxlesAxlesMajor5.1.1.c.iiAxlesAxlesDangerous5.1.2.aStub axlesAxlesDangerous5.1.2.b.iStub axlesAxlesMajor5.1.2.b.iiStub axlesAxlesDangerous5.1.2.c.iStub axlesAxlesMajor5.1.2.c.iiStub axlesAxlesDangerous5.1.2.d.iStub axlesAxlesMajor5.1.2.d.iiStub axlesAxlesDangerous5.1.3.a.iWheel bearingsAxlesMajor5.1.3.a.iiWheel bearingsAxlesDangerous5.1.3.b.iWheel bearingsAxlesMajor5.1.3.b.iiWheel bearingsAxlesDangerous
5.2 Wheels and tyres
5.2.1.a.iRoad wheel and hubWheels and tyresMajor5.2.1.a.iiRoad wheel and hubWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.1.b.iRoad wheel and hubWheels and tyresMajor5.2.1.b.iiRoad wheel and hubWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.2.aRoad wheel conditionWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.2.b.iRoad wheel conditionWheels and tyresMajor5.2.2.b.iiRoad wheel conditionWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.2.c.iRoad wheel conditionWheels and tyresMajor5.2.2.c.iiRoad wheel conditionWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.2.dRoad wheel conditionWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.a.iTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.a.iiTyresWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.3.bTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.cTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.d.iTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.d.iiTyresWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.3.eTyresWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.3.fTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.gTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.hTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.iTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.jTyresWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.3.kTyresWheels and tyresMajor5.2.3.lTyresWheels and tyresMinor5.2.3.mTyresWheels and tyresDangerous5.2.3.n.iTyresWheels and tyresMinor5.2.3.n.iiTyresWheels and tyresMajor
5.3 Suspension
5.3.1.a.iSpringsSuspensionMajor5.3.1.a.iiSpringsSuspensionDangerous5.3.1.b.iSpringsSuspensionMajor5.3.1.b.iiSpringsSuspensionDangerous5.3.1.c.iSpringsSuspensionMajor5.3.1.c.iiSpringsSuspensionDangerous5.3.1.d.iSpringsSuspensionMajor5.3.1.d.iiSpringsSuspensionDangerous5.3.2.a.iShock absorbersSuspensionMajor5.3.2.a.iiShock absorbersSuspensionDangerous5.3.2.bShock absorbersSuspensionMajor5.3.2.cShock absorbersSuspensionMajor5.3.2.dShock absorbersSuspensionMajor5.3.3.a.iSuspension arms, rods, struts, sub-frames, anti-roll bars etc.SuspensionMajor5.3.3.a.iiSuspension arms, rods, struts, sub-frames, anti-roll bars etc.SuspensionDangerous5.3.3.b.iSuspension arms, rods, struts, sub-frames, anti-roll bars etc.SuspensionMajor5.3.3.b.iiSuspension arms, rods, struts, sub-frames, anti-roll bars etc.SuspensionDangerous5.3.3.c.iSuspension arms, rods, struts, sub-frames, anti-roll bars etc.SuspensionMajor5.3.3.c.iiSuspension arms, rods, struts, sub-frames, anti-roll bars etc.SuspensionDangerous5.3.4.a.iSuspension joints, pins and bushesSuspensionMajor5.3.4.a.iiSuspension joints, pins and bushesSuspensionDangerous5.3.4.b.iSuspension joints, pins and bushesSuspensionMinor5.3.4.b.iiSuspension joints, pins and bushesSuspensionMajor5.3.5.aGas, air and fluid suspensionSuspensionDangerous5.3.5.b.iGas, air and fluid suspensionSuspensionMajor5.3.5.b.iiGas, air and fluid suspensionSuspensionDangerous5.3.5.cGas, air and fluid suspensionSuspensionMajor5.3.6.a.iComplete suspension systemSuspensionMajor5.3.6.a.iiComplete suspension systemSuspensionDangerous5.3.6.bComplete suspension systemSuspensionMajor
motfailcode.uk maps DVSA MOT defect codes to plain-English meanings. Defect severity classifications follow the DVSA MOT Inspection Manual current as of 12 May 2026. Codes and severities are updated annually (typically May). Always confirm with a qualified MOT tester or vehicle technician for your specific vehicle. This site is not affiliated with DVSA or HM Government.
See our methodology for how we extract and verify each code, and sources for the full citation manifest.