Reliability report
Dacia Sandero reliability and common faults
Based on 156,589 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
27.4%
fail rate · average 19.0%
much worse than average
96,109 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
50.3%
with defects · average 46.1%
worse than average
55,940 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
49.6%
first-time pass · average 70.7%
much worse than average
4,540 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Dacia Sandero
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Body and structure
Visibilityconfirmed in 2 countries
Lights and electricsconfirmed in 2 countries
Suspension
Plates and identification
Steeringconfirmed in 2 countries
Seat belts and airbags
Brakesconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissions
Tyres
Wheels
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 2Tyre insufficient tread
- 3Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 6Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 7Sidelight not working (properly)
- 8Steering gear dust cover damaged, not sealing
- 9Disc or drum brake doesn't run free
- 10Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 11Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge
- 12Tyre damaged
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 13.3% avg 9.9% | 31.4% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 21.2% avg 15.3% | 42.4% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 35.4% avg 22.9% | 47.8% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 35.1% avg 30.3% | 59.8% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | — | 67.3% avg 64.7% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Sandero | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 35.1% | 61.4% | 37 |
| 2021 | 77.1% | 86.7% | 297 |
| 2020 | 29.0% | 78.6% | 576 |
| 2019 | 41.5% | 83.2% | 540 |
| 2018 | 68.2% | 79.5% | 151 |
| 2017 | 59.1% | 76.6% | 257 |
| 2016 | 65.7% | 72.8% | 265 |
| 2015 | 58.0% | 71.1% | 352 |
| 2014 | 56.3% | 68.0% | 405 |
| 2013 | 52.2% | 65.9% | 439 |
| 2012 | 40.8% | 63.7% | 179 |
| 2011 | 47.5% | 61.2% | 223 |
| 2010 | 39.8% | 57.3% | 352 |
| 2009 | 41.1% | 54.5% | 331 |
| 2008 | 54.4% | 52.4% | 136 |
Dacia Sandero – FAQs
How reliable is the Dacia Sandero?+
In the UK the Dacia Sandero fails 27.4% of MOT tests, against an average of 19.0% for cars of the same age – much worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 50.3% of APK inspections (average there 46.1%) – worse than average. In Lithuania 49.6% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 70.7%) – much worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Dacia Sandero?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: body and structure, visibility, lights and electrics, suspension.
What should I check when buying a used Dacia Sandero?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Dacia models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).