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NCT - nearly half of the 1.5 million vehicles that did the test last year failed

  • 04-01-2024 01:13PM
    #1
    aidanodr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,018 ✭✭✭


    I think the one revealing stat NOT MENTIONED would be an AGE PROFILE of the 750,000 cars that failed

    https://www.newstalk.com/news/people-say-its-a-money-racket-should-the-nct-be-scrapped-1628709

    In saying that my own car is an 08 MX5 roadster ( 16 years this year ) and has passed with flying colours so far. Not gloating, its that kind of car that, in the main, one looks after well if you have one. I am trying to keep it on the road beyond it being a classic. Shes an Irish car and was lucky to get it hardly used in 2014.

    I have an aquantance with a 92 Starlet, same thing, flys through the NCT annually. I suppose not much can go wrong with it, very simple and mainly old style mechanical w/o much electronic stuff :D

    Any way - still, it would be informative to see an age profile of the cars that fail. Is it mainly those over a certain age OR is it a mixture of newer / older?

    Of course as article implies, it could be the NCT really pushing the boundaries of its terms of ref with regards to what it checks or not



«13

Comments

  • #2
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,909 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    this is a tricky one, theres probably many reasons for the failure rate, many probably simply cant afford to move onto another younger vehicle, as is the case with myself, which means im forced to keep an aging car going, and typically its becoming harder and harder, as its at the end of its life, yet ive virtually no other options, so.....

    then of course theres the elephant in the room, the way the whole system is structured means, maintaining an elevated failure rate actually benefits the owners of nct itself, ive had someone in the trade claim recently, it should be publicly operated, to reduce this exposure, shur who knows....



  • #3
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 85,912 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    Any time I have been at the NCT centre at least 25% of the cars I can hear being discussed as failed did so on lights not working, basic stuff any simpleton should know is working or not before turning up for the test.



  • #4
    reubenreuben
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,230 ✭✭✭reubenreuben


    Are there any stats for the NCT equivalent in the north? It would be interesting to see if there are any differences.



  • #5
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,909 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570090#Comment_121570090

    i suspect some of this is people simply not really having the time to pre inspect their vehicles prior to testing, most people are just running and racing nowadays, the only time they have with testing is simply booking and rocking up, my previous mechanic use to always tell me, just send it in, and let them tell you whats wrong....



  • #6
    [Steve]
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 196 ✭✭[Steve]


    I've had family members return from NCT for simple fail reasons - lights out, worn tyres, bad alignment, or worn brakes. It's not rocket science to check these prior to test but as mentioned above - a lot of people either don't care or use the NCT as list of problems for the garage to fix.

    Personally had mine in at the start of december, passed without issue (https://i.imgur.com/XSKl1Hr.jpg). Had 4 new tyres fitted, alignment done, and checked brakes + lights the week prior to NCT. Hence the result. Still going to sort out the brakes all-round though in a few months as it's got the original 2015 rotors and rear drums.


    I think it would be a terrible idea to scrap the NCT - it forces people to drive cars that are safe to a reasonable level. There's still far too many cars on the road with blown lights, worn tyres, and half falling apart as it is.



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  • #7
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,909 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    theres also a lot of resentment based around testing, resulting in people going 'fcuk it', why bother pre checking....



  • #8
    kippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,188 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    I don't know about resentment but there is a fair bit of "Send it in as it is, get the list of things to fix, get them fixed, pass" which is going to have a major impact on the initial failure rates.

    This way of doing things makes a lot of sense (unless of course there's a fairly obvious issue with the car that needs to be sorted asap) and I can see that it makes a lot of sense to do things this way.

    Scrapping the NCT would be a serious issue and I don't think we can - it was probably brought in back in the day as some sort of EU directive no doubt and it's a relatively cheap way to keep your car monitored and as such roadworthy.



  • #9
    Padre_Pio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,565 ✭✭✭Padre_Pio


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570075#Comment_121570075

    Most of the top failures are poor maintenance. Tyres, alignment, lights and suspension.

    The NCT is a safety check and it's usually cheap to fix issues.



  • #10
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,909 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570445#Comment_121570445

    again, some people simply dont have time or money to keep up with all of that....

    some people truly dont have 100+ quid to fix stuff, hence why theyre driving around in death traps, failed tests, false tests etc etc



  • #11
    brokenbad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,889 ✭✭✭brokenbad


    IF you bring your car in for an NCT and it fails for bulbs or bald tyres resulting in a failure - then it's your own fault for not going through the pre-test checklist. Every year when i bring in the wife's 2006 Micra it flies through the test - mainly because i have taken the time beforehand to check and fix any of the basic failure issues.

    Post edited by brokenbad on


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  • #12
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,909 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570620#Comment_121570620

    ...so does pointing the finger at customers actually do much for issues such as lengthening waiting times etc?



  • #13
    The Continental Op
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,126 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    A mechanic I used to use always said to get take an NCT test and get a "shopping list" of what needs doing before bringing it to him.

    Often easier to fix just what the NCT tells you is wrong rather than fixing stuff you think might fail.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



  • #14
    Kimbot
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 18,856 Mod ✭✭✭✭Kimbot


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570578#Comment_121570578

    well my thoughts on that is if you cant afford to maintain a car properly then you shouldnt have a car at all. I do get that sometimes things can go in cars that are expensive etc and you may have to hold off fixing it until you have the money but safety issues should not be put on the long finger either.



  • #15
    rob316
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,629 ✭✭✭✭rob316


    My attitude is I'll just put it through and see what they say. I'll check the basic's before hand but anything under the body I'll live and hope.

    Pre NCT checks you pay for are a waste of time, garages don't have the rolling roads



  • #16
    antodeco
    Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,669 ✭✭✭✭antodeco


    I put my cars through every year (ranging from 9+ years old to 30+ years old). Cast majority of the time they fly through. If they do fail, it's on something weird like the bulb not being orange enough (yet has always passed with the same bulb/lights previously), one time it failed because the indicator stalk was broken. Turned out the tester broke it and didn't know how to fix it (basically pushed it the wrong way)



  • #17
    Padre_Pio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,565 ✭✭✭Padre_Pio


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570578#Comment_121570578

    Tough luck then. Motoring has always been expensive and it's no excuse to drive a dangerous vehicle because you can't maintain it.



  • #18
    Kaisr Sose
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,627 ✭✭✭Kaisr Sose


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570672#Comment_121570672

    The more vehicles that have to go back for a second test (except visual inspection) utilising test machinery is surely impacting on the waiting times where centres are at or near capacity. Take some or the retests out of the equation and automatically there are more slots available, thus shorter wait times for all.



  • #19
    Buffman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,993 ✭✭✭Buffman


    As usual somebody just cobbles together the statistics to suit their own headline grabbing needs. Remember there are two different types of fails, major and dangerous, with a big difference between them. It looks to me like they pulled the 750,000 number by adding all the fails together, when IMO only fail dangerous stats are relevant to the safety side of the NCT discussion.

    The actual stats for last year on the NCT site appear to be 1588003 tests, 638233 fail majors and 109587 fail dangerous. Which is about a 7% fail dangerous rate, a lot less than the near 50% headline figure used in that 'article'.

    https://www.ncts.ie/1155


    FYI, if you move to a 'smart' meter electricity plan, you CAN'T move back to a non-smart plan.

    You don't have to take a 'smart' meter if you don't want one, opt-out is available.

    Buy drinks in 3L or bigger plastic bottles or glass bottles or cartons to avoid the DRS fee.



  • #20
    Cienciano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,124 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    I think almost everyone at this stage uses the NCT as a shopping list to see what needs done. Just get the basic service if it passes.



  • #21
    Viscount Aggro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,421 ✭✭✭Viscount Aggro


    The test is much more vigorous, since it started.

    I do think they are out to fail people. If you show up for the test in a petrol or diesel car, be wary.

    Govt. agenda is to get more people driving EVs.



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  • #22
    oceanman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,776 ✭✭✭oceanman


    Its a licence to print money for the operators, private garages should be allowed tender for the business.



  • #23
    DaveyDave
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,458 ✭✭✭DaveyDave


    I'd say a fair amount of the fails are people putting the car through to see what needs to be fixed. Likely due to bring ripped off in the past and not wanting to pay for unnecessary repairs or just being cheap and wanting to spend as little as possible.

    Every second car on the roads has misaligned headlights or missing bulbs, it's clear people just don't give a shite about maintaining their cars. Cars here seem to fall into a cycle of neglect, a lot of 10 year old cars aren't even washed let alone serviced properly.

    Plus you have people driving around in things they can't afford, too many people get their secondhand Audi and BMW then refuse to service it and repair it properly. They live a life of €20 diesel fills. They'd be able to afford it if it was a Dacia or bog standard Hyundai. Loads of people are happy to put GTI wheels on their diesel Golfs that look like they're about to fall apart if they hit a speed bump too quickly.

    I understand motoring is expensive in Ireland but everything has been on cheap tax for the last 10 years and are fairly fuel efficient. What are people driving that doesn't have generic service parts, cheap tax and decent fuel economy that they can't afford to fix?

    Post edited by DaveyDave on


  • #24
    boardz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 544 ✭✭✭boardz


    Is this failure rate out of sync with previous years? I didn't do a pre test inspection other than tyres and bulbs and it failed on headlight alignment. Garage told me the alignment measurement changed in the last year and loads of cars failing on it. The new standard for me (and him) makes the lights point down too low in my opinion. He told me on his and his wifes cars he aligns to pass the test and then re aligns them to the old standard. Makes a huge difference. Wonder if it has any impact on the increased fatalities last year?



  • #25
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,770 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570810#Comment_121570810

    No excuse at all but most of the cars driven by people who are short of money are over 10 years old.

    With the annual test the faults are picked up on and then they either get rid or find the money somewhere.



  • #26
    gossamerfabric
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 852 ✭✭✭gossamerfabric


    RSA levy NCT

    see page 82 of https://www.rsa.ie/docs/default-source/about/rsa-annual-report-and-accounts-2021.pdf?sfvrsn=915de985_7

    Should they be receiving so much?

    I consider their Advertisements offensive and depressing and have zero effect on those who live chaotic lives resulting in accidents.

    I also feel they take credit for reducing injuries when road improvements and improvements in active and passive safety of vehicles are really what is helping most.

    It has been suggested that the new Asian testers are testing with much gusto but I only have anecdotal evidence to support this.



  • #27
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    A lot of people send a car in to see whats wrong with it.

    Last year before the NCT, my main dealer had a couple hundred euro worth of stuff needing to be done.

    So i sent it in to see what else it would fail & see was it worth doing.

    The car passed the nct without a spanner being touched!!



  • #28
    mk7r
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 935 ✭✭✭mk7r


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121571151#Comment_121571151

    That doesn't mean there is nothing wrong with your car though.

    The next is a basic check of certain basic safety items, it's not a comprehensive test of the entire car.



  • #29
    Padre_Pio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,565 ✭✭✭Padre_Pio


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121571317#Comment_121571317

    But that doesn't matter. The purpose of the nct is to get polluting and unsafe cars off the road, not to make sure your car won't suffer engine trouble.



  • #30
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121571317#Comment_121571317

    If a car passes an NCT & still has problem’s that make it unsafe then whats the point of it?

    I think the garage were just looking for a soft paycheck. Car drove away the finest anyway for a few months until I could afford the repair’s.



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  • #31
    Red Silurian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,536 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121571151#Comment_121571151

    A lot of people send a car in to see whats wrong with it.

    I'd say nearly everybody does this at this stage. A retest is €27. If you've to spend €500 on a service it's small change to get anything else fixed

    There's also a new requirement for the NCT to be able to see the VIN number stamped on the chassis. This is causing many failures (albeit with free retesting) as most drivers don't know where to find this number stamped

    https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/nct-criticised-over-test-1.1036075



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