Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Dacia Sandero 2018: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2018 Dacia Sandero include Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) (~39.1× peers) and Headlamp levelling device (~21.4× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (3,514 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

3,514 failed first-attempt tests · 12,028 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) — about 39.1× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front): about 39.1× more often than similar cars
Headlamp levelling device: about 21.4× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 3,514 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front)

This failure pattern appears about 39.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 148 failed first-attempt tests; 4.2% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 148 failures · ×39.1 vs similar cars · 4.2% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Headlamp levelling device

This failure pattern appears about 21.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 103 failed first-attempt tests; 2.9% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 103 failures · ×21.4 vs similar cars · 2.9% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

#	Fault pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Linkage pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes	Front	91	×47.1	2.6%	Likely common fault pattern
2	Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage	Front	148	×39.1	4.2%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3	Headlamp levelling device Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamps > Headlamp levelling device	Any	103	×21.4	2.9%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4	Catalyst emissions Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Catalyst emissions	Any	151	×2.9	4.3%	Possible elevated fault
5	Drive shafts — Joints (front) Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Drive shafts > Joints	Front	221	×2.5	6.3%	Possible elevated fault
6	Headlamp (front) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamps > Headlamp	Front	207	×2.5	5.9%	Possible elevated fault
7	Headlamp Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamps > Headlamp	Any	195	×2.4	5.5%	Possible elevated fault
8	Coil spring (front) Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring	Front	287	×2.1	8.2%	Possible elevated fault
9	Malfunction indicator lamp Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp	Any	197	×2.1	5.6%	Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Wear patterns

These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.

#	Pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Headlamp aim not tested (front) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamp aim > Headlamp aim not tested	Front	32	×3.1	0.9%	Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault
2	Headlamp aim Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamp aim > Headlamp aim	Any	481	×2.7	13.7%	Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault
3	Headlamp aim (front) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamp aim > Headlamp aim	Front	363	×2.7	10.3%	Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault
4	Headlamp aim not tested Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamp aim > Headlamp aim not tested	Any	30	×2.3	0.9%	Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

#	Advisory pattern	Location	Notes	vs similar cars	Share	Confidence
1	Linkage pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes	Front	87	×17.2	2.5%	Likely common fault pattern
2	Pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes	Front	21	×6.1	0.6%	Possible elevated fault
3	Stop lamp Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Stop lamp	Any	29	×5.4	0.8%	Elevated vs peers
4	Sub-frame (front) Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame	Front	27	×3.9	0.8%	Elevated vs peers
5	Coil spring (rear) Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring	Rear	59	×3.5	1.7%	Elevated vs peers
6	Individual direction indicators (rear) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators	Rear	24	×2.2	0.7%	Elevated vs peers
7	Road Wheels — Condition (front) Road Wheels > Condition	Front	58	×2.2	1.7%	Elevated vs peers

FAQs

Is the 2018 Dacia Sandero reliable?

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2018 Dacia Sandero on this page. Among 3,514 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 39.1× more often than peers; 148 observed failures; 4.2% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.

What common MOT faults stand out on the Dacia Sandero 2018?

Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) (about 39.1× more often than peers; 148 observed failures; 4.2% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.

Why does Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) stand out?

Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 39.1× more often than peers; 148 observed failures; 4.2% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.

What are common problems with the 2018 Dacia Sandero?

Common MOT problem areas for the 2018 Dacia Sandero include Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front), Headlamp levelling device. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.

How should I read advisories vs fails?

Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.

What does this Dacia Sandero 2018 MOT report cover?

This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2018 Dacia Sandero (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.

Does this include engine and gearbox problems?

No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

What is PRS, and why does it count as a fail?

PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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