A door, bonnet or boot doesn't latch and stay shut as it should. On the bonnet, the secondary safety catch is also checked — that's the one that stops the bonnet coming up into the windscreen if the primary catch releases at speed.
Wording as it commonly appears on an MOT certificate: “Door or bonnet does not close securely”.
What does it mean?
A door, bonnet or boot doesn't latch and stay shut as it should. On the bonnet, the secondary safety catch is also checked — that's the one that stops the bonnet coming up into the windscreen if the primary catch releases at speed.
How serious is it?
Usually recorded as: Major, Dangerous. The tester assesses the actual vehicle on the day, so your certificate is what counts.
What normally causes it?
- A seized or dry latch mechanism, particularly the bonnet catch, which lives in the weather
- A stretched or seized bonnet release cable
- A worn striker plate or dropped door hinge
- Accident damage having moved a panel out of alignment
What a mechanic would check
Operate each latch several times and check it engages fully every time, not just once. On the bonnet, I'd release the primary catch and confirm the safety catch holds and then releases correctly. A good clean and lubricate fixes a lot of these.
What might need replacing
- Cleaning and lubrication
- A latch mechanism or striker
- A bonnet release cable
- Hinge or alignment work
Can you still drive it?
A bonnet that won't latch securely is potentially Dangerous — if it lifts at speed you lose all forward vision. Don't drive it until it's confirmed secure.
Repair cost
Often just labour to free off and lubricate. A latch or cable is a modest part on most cars.
Before the retest
Re-check the specific item on your certificate yourself before the retest — catches that latch first time, no fuel smell or drips under the car, doors that open from inside and out. Most of these are inexpensive repairs, so it is worth also looking over any advisories on the certificate while the car is booked in, rather than waiting for them to become failures next year.
Retest rules
If the vehicle stays at the test centre for repair and is retested within 10 working days, a partial retest is often free; some items qualify for a free retest if you bring the car back by the end of the next working day. The exact conditions are set out on GOV.UK, so confirm with the test centre before you leave. A major or dangerous failure means the car cannot legally be driven away unless the previous MOT is still valid and nothing dangerous was recorded — check your certificate first.
Related help
More other mot items failures · MOT failure decoder · Ask a mechanic about your certificate
This is general guidance from a UK mechanic, not a substitute for a physical inspection. Only the tester who inspected your vehicle can confirm what was recorded and why.