Data revealing MOT failure rates of vans and cars, which was released recently by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), can be easily misinterpreted leading to vehicles being unfairly classed as unreliable.

Used car price experts at CAP warned not to take the MOT failure rate data at face value, saying the a raw list of MOT failure rates risks misleading consumers by unfairly branding some car makes and models as unreliable or even potentially unsafe.

MOT failure rates are influenced by a range of factors over which the manufacturer has no control, such as excessive mileage and poor maintenance and repair practices.

The data fails to reveal the reasons for failure, which may be as minor as a worn-out wiper blade or a light bulb that is not working – both problems which can be rectified in moments and for just a few pence.

Some cars are favoured by company car drivers and will therefore cover higher than average mileage during their first three years.

Consequently such cars will be more prone to minor item wear and tear when it comes to the first MOT.

However, the BVRLA said this should not lead to the assumption that company cars and vans are poorly maintained.

“Regardless of their mileage, fleet vehicles are likely to be better maintained than privately-owned cars or vans," said John Lewis, BVRLA chief executive.

"They are vital business tools and most organisations have rigorous procedures to ensure that they are well looked after.”

CAP's Mark Norman said little can be drawn from the data regarding MOT test results. 

“We all know that an MOT is nothing to do with reliability," said Norman.

"For instance, the most common overall reason for failure is lighting and signalling.

"But nobody could blame a manufacturer for a blown bulb or misaligned headlight.”

Another factor is the profile of the car’s owner and whether they adhere to the manufacturer’s service and maintenance schedule.

Some car owners – for example older drivers or those who have paid for their own car – will take more care of their vehicle and ensure minor faults are rectified before reaching the MOT testing station.

The type of use a car typically undergoes will also have a significant impact.

For example, broken suspension springs are now a very common reason for MOT failure, with potholes and traffic calming humps cited as the cause.

If a car is largely driven on short journeys in urban areas where potholes or humps are most common, it is more likely to fall foul of that problem than a car which generally spends most time on well-maintained motorways.

“Many company car drivers are routinely asked to take their car to the MOT station just before the end of a three year contract to ensure the vehicle can be easily sold on into the used market as soon as they hand it in,” said Norman.

“Those cars are highly likely to have minor faults which the driver has not rectified and will therefore almost routinely fail the test.

"But that does not mean there is anything fundamentally wrong with them.”

Ford defended the Transit Connect’s record after the data, which was obtained by the BBC under a freedom of information request, revealed it had one of the highest failure rates.

For vehicles first used in 2004, the van had the highest failure rate at 30.5%, followed by the Renault Megane at 28.1% and the Ford Transit at 26.3%.

“The MoT is an annual roadworthiness test and takes no account of how and when the owner maintains and services the vehicle,” explained a Ford spokesman.

“It also takes no account of mileage and as we are very predominant in the fleet sector, especially with Transit we see very high mileages on these vehicles.

“You also have to remember that Transits are work vehicles and so there is no personal attachment between the driver and the vehicle which there often is between drivers who own their vehicle.”

He added: “We track our vehicles very accurately to see how they perform in the real world and we benchmark this against how other manufacturers’ vehicles are performing and we know ours are performing extremely well.

"The Transit wouldn’t still be the country’s favourite van if they didn’t.”