Sym La MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 220 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 15.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Sym La MOT Reliability Overview
The Sym La is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 220 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.1% and a failure rate of 15.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Sym La earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Sym La presents for MOT with approximately 14,292 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2015 models achieve the highest pass rate at 85.5%, while 2016 models have the lowest at 83.3%. This 2.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Sym La is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 10.5% 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 Motorcycle lamps and reflectors at 8.6%. Motorcycle tyres rounds out the top three at 7.3%. 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 | Motorcycle Brakes | 10.5% | 23 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 8.6% | 19 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Tyres | 7.3% | 16 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering | 2.7% | 6 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 2.7% | 6 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Suspension | 2.3% | 5 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 1.8% | 4 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 1.8% | 4 |
| 9 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.4% | 3 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.4% | 3 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.9% | 2 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 0.5% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 14,292 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle brakes | 7.31 | 10.5% | 23 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 6.04 | 8.6% | 19 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 5.09 | 7.3% | 16 |
| Motorcycle steering | 1.91 | 2.7% | 6 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 1.91 | 2.7% | 6 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 1.59 | 2.3% | 5 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 1.27 | 1.8% | 4 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 1.27 | 1.8% | 4 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.95 | 1.4% | 3 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.95 | 1.4% | 3 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.64 | 0.9% | 2 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.32 | 0.5% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Sym La has 14,292 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 Sym La has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 11.13% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Sym La MOT Data
The Sym La is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 220 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.1% and a failure rate of 15.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Sym La owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes and motorcycle lamps and reflectors 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 La is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 10.5% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 10.5% of MOT failures on the Sym La. 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).
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 8.6% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 8.6% of MOT failures on the Sym La. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Motorcycle tyres — 7.3% of failures
Motorcycle tyres issues account for 7.3% of MOT failures on the Sym La. 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 Sym La?
Based on 220 MOT tests in our database, the Sym La has an overall pass rate of 84.1% (15.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Sym La?
The top 3 reasons a Sym La fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (10.5%), 2. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (8.6%), 3. Motorcycle tyres (7.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Sym La reliable?
With a 15.9% MOT failure rate, the La is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Sym La?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (10.5%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (8.6%); Motorcycle tyres (7.3%). 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.