Peter Lyon
March 17, 2026
Faulty washer jets caused 216,388 Ministry of Transport (MOT) failures in the UK in 2025, according to newly obtained data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The figures, which equate to 592 failures each day last year, were obtained by a Freedom of Information (FOI) request issued by eBay.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., while there is no specific official count for “faulty car washer jets” for 2025, we do know that in late 2025, Ford reopened investigations into windshield wiper motor failures, leading to a recall of over 604,000 SUVs. So it goes without saying that—whichever side of the pond you reside, the windshield wiper issue is a major problem and one that cannot be ignored.
The DVSA figures suggest UK motorists are unaware that damaged or faulty washer jets could result in a MOT failure – and an exclusive eBay study into the subject supports this impression. Research by the UK’s number one online marketplace for vehicle parts and accessories shows more than a quarter of motorists (26%) didn’t know this was the case.
Windscreen washers help drivers maintain clear visibility, making them an essential safety part. Despite this, more than one in 10 (13%) drivers admitted to never checking the condition of their washer jets, while 21% said they only check them when they have a MOT or service booked.
Abir Tewari, UK Director of Commercial Operations, Parts & Accessories at eBay, said, “Small and simple parts like washer jets can go under the radar and motorists should routinely check them as part of their regular vehicle maintenance, especially before longer journeys and the annual MOT test. This vital part caused a significant number of failed MOTs last year, all of which are preventable with a low-cost, simple fix using parts sourced through eBay.”
A lack of confidence in fixing the issue appears could be part of the problem, with two-thirds of car owners (69%) not confident in their ability to replace and fix washer nozzles themselves.
eBay offers motorists a huge breadth and scale of vehicle parts and accessories – all of which are easy to find using its My Garage feature. It allows users to input their vehicle number plate, ensuring the parts they find are perfectly compatible with their specific model, making pre-MOT checks – such as checking washer jets – simple and easy.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Data from the DVSA also showed that incorrect alignment of washer jets accounted for 29,405 MOT failures in 2025, and in eBay’s research more than half (58%) of car owners did not know they run the risk of failing their MOT as a result – with 62% admitting to not knowing how to re-align them correctly.
