Used car guide

2020 Dacia Duster: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Dacia Dusters, from 8,319 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,319MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
7,200typical miles a year
5.9×the usual rate for headlight aim

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 Dacia Dusters than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Headlight aim5.9× usual
    Dacia Duster
    8.3% All 2020 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.3%, against 1.4% of all 2020 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.

  • Wipers2.8× usual
    Dacia Duster
    8.1% All 2020 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 1.8% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Headlights9.2× usual
    Dacia Duster
    5.5% All 2020 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 0.5% of all 2020 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 pipes26× usual
    Dacia Duster
    2.6% All 2020 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0% of all 2020 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.

  • Washers2.8× usual
    Dacia Duster
    2.8% All 2020 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

By area

The share of 2020 Dacia Duster MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% 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
    20% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% 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
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Suspension
    3% 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.

Looking at a Dacia Duster?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
202210,606Tyres 24%
20218,714Tyres 26%
201914,895Tyres 31%
20188,604Tyres 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 2020 Dacia Dusters registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score