Used car guide

2020 Dacia Sandero: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Dacia Sanderos, from 9,054 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,054MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
5,800typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for wipers

What stands out

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

  • Wipers2.3× usual
    Dacia Sandero
    6.7% All 2020 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, 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.

  • Headlight aim2.9× usual
    Dacia Sandero
    4.1% All 2020 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, 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.

  • Headlights4.3× usual
    Dacia Sandero
    2.6% All 2020 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, 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.

  • Washers2.9× usual
    Dacia Sandero
    2.9% All 2020 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, 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 Sandero MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    17% 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
    11% 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
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    4% 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.

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

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
202213,125Tyres 21%
20218,090Tyres 24%
201912,521Tyres 33%
201812,501Tyres 33%
201714,637Tyres 33%
201614,280Tyres 32%
201514,223Suspension 34%
201412,121Suspension 37%
20136,833Tyres 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 Dacia Sanderos registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score