Used car guide

2017 Dacia Duster: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Dacia Dusters, from 6,336 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,336MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
7,200typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Dacia Dusters than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Coil springs2.7× usual
    Dacia Duster
    7.7% All 2017 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Headlight aim3.4× usual
    Dacia Duster
    6.4% All 2017 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.4%, against 1.9% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

  • Brake lights2.4× usual
    Dacia Duster
    3.1% All 2017 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.1% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Number plate lights1.8× usual
    Dacia Duster
    4.2% All 2017 cars
    2.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.7% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Headlights2.3× usual
    Dacia Duster
    3% All 2017 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.8% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 Dacia Duster MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    21% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    18% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    15% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    3% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Dacia Duster?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
202210,606Tyres 24%
20218,714Tyres 26%
20208,319Tyres 27%
201914,895Tyres 31%
20188,604Tyres 31%
20166,920Tyres 30%
20155,666Tyres 31%
20145,460Brakes 45%
20135,913Brakes 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Dacia Dusters registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score