Dacia Sandero Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Dacia Sandero car check
Is the Dacia Sandero reliable? We analysed 875,466 real MOT tests across 101,417 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Dacia Sandero? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Dacia Sandero is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Dacia Sandero.
Dacia Sandero Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Dacia Sandero. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Dacia Sandero MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Dacia Sandero to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Dacia Sandero Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Dacia Sandero models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Dacia Sandero Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Dacia Sandero owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Dacia Sandero MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Dacia Sandero year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,493 | 84.0% | 15,942 | 23,391 | 33,581 |
| 2020 | 30,980 | 83.7% | 15,107 | 23,459 | 34,628 |
| 2019 | 66,854 | 82.0% | 16,481 | 25,906 | 38,368 |
| 2018 | 83,068 | 80.9% | 18,921 | 29,796 | 44,230 |
| 2017 | 122,600 | 79.4% | 22,328 | 34,930 | 51,684 |
| 2016 | 136,165 | 77.6% | 25,712 | 40,028 | 58,717 |
| 2015 | 163,916 | 74.8% | 29,245 | 45,160 | 65,150 |
| 2014 | 161,585 | 74.5% | 32,295 | 50,122 | 71,868 |
| 2013 | 101,470 | 76.3% | 32,677 | 51,052 | 73,530 |
| 2012 | 264 | 78.0% | 32,654 | 54,135 | 87,062 |
How Long Does a Dacia Sandero Last?
Based on 101,417 Dacia Sandero vehicles on UK roads.
Dacia Sandero Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Dacia Sandero MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Dacia Sandero
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.0% MOT pass rate from 2,493 tests
74.5% MOT pass rate from 161,585 tests
The best year to buy a used Dacia Sandero is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.0% across 2,493 tests. The 2014 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Dacia Sandero Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacia Sandero THIS CAR | 77.4% | 875,466 | 39,774 mi | 13 yrs |
| Dacia Duster | 79.4% | 530,807 | 43,569 mi | 13 yrs |
| Dacia Logan | 78.5% | 141,246 | 52,125 mi | 13 yrs |
| Dacia Duster Essential Tce 4X2 | 82.2% | 8,864 | 28,032 mi | — yrs |
| Mercedes-benz S-class | 80.6% | 692,220 | 83,471 mi | 39 yrs |
Compared to the Dacia Duster (79.4% pass rate) and the Dacia Logan (78.5% pass rate), the Dacia Sandero trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Dacia Sandero you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Dacia SanderoShould you buy a used Dacia Sandero?
The Dacia Sandero has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.4% across 875,466 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Dacia Sandero with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Dacia Sandero owner drives around 5,625 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Dacia Sandero models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.