Auto-trail Chieftain MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 158 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 31.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Auto-trail Chieftain MOT Reliability Overview
The Auto-trail Chieftain is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 158 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.0% and a failure rate of 31.0%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Auto-trail Chieftain earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Auto-trail Chieftain presents for MOT with approximately 35,083 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2005 models achieve the highest pass rate at 83.3%, while 2002 models have the lowest at 71.0%. This 12.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Auto-trail Chieftain is Brakes, affecting 18.4% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Body, chassis, structure at 13.3%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 13.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 22.2% | 35 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 21.5% | 34 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.3% | 21 |
| 4 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 13.3% | 21 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 4.4% | 7 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 7 |
| 7 | Suspension | 3.8% | 6 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.2% | 5 |
| 9 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 2.5% | 4 |
| 10 | Body, Structure And General Items | 1.9% | 3 |
| 11 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.9% | 3 |
| 12 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.3% | 2 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 0.6% | 1 |
| 14 | Items Not Tested | 0.6% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 35,083 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 6.31 | 22.2% | 35 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 6.13 | 21.5% | 34 |
| Body & Structure | 4.33 | 15.2% | 24 |
| Tyres | 3.79 | 13.3% | 21 |
| Visibility | 2.52 | 8.8% | 14 |
| Suspension | 1.08 | 3.8% | 6 |
| Steering | 0.90 | 3.2% | 5 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.72 | 2.5% | 4 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.54 | 1.9% | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 0.36 | 1.3% | 2 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.18 | 0.6% | 1 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.18 | 0.6% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Auto-trail Chieftain has 35,083 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Auto-trail Chieftain has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 8.84% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Auto-trail Chieftain MOT Data
The Auto-trail Chieftain is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 158 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.0% and a failure rate of 31.0%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Auto-trail Chieftain owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and body, chassis, structure for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Chieftain is likely to perform.
Brakes — 18.4% of failures
Brakes issues account for 18.4% of MOT failures on the Auto-trail Chieftain. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Body, chassis, structure — 13.3% of failures
Body, chassis, structure issues account for 13.3% of MOT failures on the Auto-trail Chieftain. Body and structure failures include excessive corrosion, sharp edges, loose panels, and damage to the vehicle frame. Rust is the primary concern, especially on older vehicles or those exposed to road salt. Typical repair costs: £100–500+. Pre-MOT check: Inspect sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and the chassis for rust. Surface rust is acceptable but structural corrosion or holes will fail. Check that all doors, bonnet, and boot close securely.
Tyres — 13.3% of failures
Tyres issues account for 13.3% of MOT failures on the Auto-trail Chieftain. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Auto-trail Chieftain?
Based on 158 MOT tests in our database, the Auto-trail Chieftain has an overall pass rate of 69.0% (31.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Auto-trail Chieftain?
The top 3 reasons a Auto-trail Chieftain fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (18.4%), 2. Body, chassis, structure (13.3%), 3. Tyres (13.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Auto-trail Chieftain reliable?
With a 31.0% MOT failure rate, the Chieftain is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Auto-trail Chieftain?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (18.4%); Body, chassis, structure (13.3%); Tyres (13.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.