Used car guide

2018 Dacia Duster: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Dacia Dusters, from 8,604 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,604MOT tests in 2025
71%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
7,300typical miles a year
4.6×the usual rate for headlight aim

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Dacia Dusters than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Headlight aim4.6× usual
    Dacia Duster
    7.9% All 2018 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.9%, against 1.7% of all 2018 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.

  • Track rod ends3.4× usual
    Dacia Duster
    5.8% All 2018 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 0.8% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Headlights3.8× usual
    Dacia Duster
    4.2% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1% of all 2018 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.9× usual
    Dacia Duster
    3.1% All 2018 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Number plate lights2.1× usual
    Dacia Duster
    3.8% All 2018 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.6% of all 2018 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.

By area

The share of 2018 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
    23% 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
    20% 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
    10% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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%
20176,336Tyres 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 2018 Dacia Dusters registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score