Hundreds of vehicles are failing their annual MOT check on account of issues with a easy automotive half costing simply £1.99.

Drivers are failing their MOT check on account of a difficulty with one half (Picture: Getty) This text accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, we are going to obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Study extra
Greater than 200,000 vehicles failed their MOT check on account of a £1.99 half that may simply slip “below the radar” in a serious blow. In keeping with information from the Driver and Car Requirements Company (DVSA), analysed by eBay, defective washer jets had been chargeable for 216,388 MOT failures in 2025.
This equates to a whopping 592 failures every day final 12 months, suggesting the problem has now develop into a significant issue. The jets are essential elements in a automotive’s windscreen that spray washer fluid onto the windscreen or rear windscreen. That is used to assist the automotive wiper blades take away filth, bugs, and dirt from the display screen and hold visibility clear always.

Washer jets will be fastened for simply £1.99 (Picture: Getty)
Abir Tewari, UK director of business operations, elements and equipment at eBay, mentioned drivers might miss the small half regardless of its essential function.
Abir mentioned: “Small and easy elements like washer jets can go below the radar, and motorists ought to routinely verify them as a part of their common automobile upkeep, particularly earlier than longer journeys and the annual MOT check. This very important half precipitated a major variety of failed MOTs final 12 months, all of that are preventable with a low-cost, easy repair utilizing elements sourced by means of eBay.”
In keeping with eBay, drivers can repair a defective washer jet for as little as £1.99. Nonetheless, the half can be changed for a nominal price. A model new pair of washer jets is prone to price street customers anyplace from £5 to £10 so is under no circumstances financial institution breaking.
A brand new ballot of two,000 people discovered that greater than 1 / 4 of motorists (26%) didn’t know a washer jet might fail their annual security inspection. The survey discovered that multiple in 10 (13%) drivers admitted to by no means checking the situation of their washer jets.
In the meantime, 21% mentioned they solely verify the part after they have an MOT or service booked. Nonetheless, a insecurity in fixing the problem may very well be a part of the issue, with two-thirds of automotive house owners (69%) not assured of their capability to interchange and repair the washer nozzles by themselves.
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Water not reaching the windscreen correctly might point out that the washer jets are damaged. The water also needs to hit the centre of the windscreen, that means the device may very well be misaligned if the water shouldn’t be hitting the center of the glass.
Motorists ought to check their washer jets recurrently – particularly earlier than an MOT– to keep away from failing on account of such a easy system.


















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