AIPlateChecker← Check a car

MOT failure item explained

“Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid”

Recorded on 2,520 of the 25,257 cars checked on this site. It is a failure item. In 35% of cases it was put right during the test.

Seen this on a car? Check it free

Every MOT test, every advisory, the mileage record and a condition score, in seconds. No sign-up.

Buying it? The full history report adds finance, write-off, stolen and keeper checks.

Cars with it
2,520
of 25,257 checked
Share of cars
10.0%
at least once
Recorded as
Fail
65% of 3,129 visits
Back next time
7.9%
of 2,504 follow-up visits

What it means

The washers are tested together with the wipers. This entry means the washers did not deliver enough liquid to the screen, or none at all, at the time of the test. Both wordings are counted on this page.

It is a failure item. It is often put right at the test station, and the record then shows it as put right during the test.

How it shows up in the records

Fail 65%Fail, put right during the test 35%Fail, marked dangerous 0.1%
7.9% came back
The same entry, on the same part of the car, was recorded again at the next test in 7.9% of cases.
48,580 miles
Median recorded mileage when it first appeared, on cars a median of 6 years old. From the 600 cars whose whole MOT history is recent enough to compare.

Share of cars with this entry, by year of manufacture

24%1971–7328%1980–8218%1983–8519%1986–8824%1989–9122%1992–9422%1995–9719%1998–0018%2001–0316%2004–0618%2007–0915%2010–1212%2013–156.1%2016–183.1%2019–211.3%2022–24

Models where it is recorded most

ModelCars with itShareSame-age cars
Peugeot 2079 of 2339%16%
TVR Tuscan20 of 5040%18%
Vauxhall Combo9 of 3426%6.0%
Peugeot Partner13 of 5623%7.4%
Volkswagen Scirocco6 of 2227%12%
Renault Clio30 of 12424%9.8%
Dacia Sandero18 of 9020%6.8%
Morgan Roadster6 of 2326%14%

Models with 20 or more cars checked here. “Same-age cars” is the share among all checked cars built in the same years, so an older model is compared with older cars.

What to check before you buy

  • Press the washer stalk. Liquid should reach the top of the screen on both sides within a second or two.
  • Check the level in the washer bottle, and that the cap and pipes are in place.
  • Confirm the pass that followed, or that the record shows the item was put right during the test.
  • Try the rear washer too if the car has one.

Cars checked here with this entry

Other visibility entries explained

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectivelyWindscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's viewWindscreen wiper blade defective

Checking a car with this on its MOT?

Repair costs depend on the car, so this page does not quote one. Enter the plate and the free report estimates them for that car, alongside every test and advisory on its record.

Check a car’s MOT history

Counts are of cars checked on this site, from official public records. Updated 22 Sept 2026 · figures as of 4 Oct 2026. All MOT entries explained.