The concertina rubber boot on the end of the steering rack has split. Its whole job is keeping road grit and water off the rack's internals and inner joint, so once it's open the clock is ticking on much more expensive parts.
Wording as it commonly appears on an MOT certificate: “Steering rack gaiter damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt”.
What does it mean?
The concertina rubber boot on the end of the steering rack has split. Its whole job is keeping road grit and water off the rack's internals and inner joint, so once it's open the clock is ticking on much more expensive parts.
How serious is it?
Usually recorded as: Major. The tester assesses the actual vehicle on the day, so your certificate is what counts.
What normally causes it?
- Age and perishing of the rubber
- Grit thrown up and trapped in the folds of the concertina
- A previous track rod job where the gaiter was reused or refitted badly
What a mechanic would check
Feel round the whole gaiter with a finger, top and bottom — splits usually show up on the underside where nobody looks. I'd also check whether there's power steering fluid inside it, because a wet gaiter means the rack seal is leaking as well and that changes the job completely.
What might need replacing
- A gaiter kit
- Alignment afterwards if the track rod has to be wound off to fit it
- A steering rack, only if fluid inside shows the seals have gone too
Can you still drive it?
It's a failure item. On its own a split gaiter isn't dangerous today, but it's a cheap part protecting an expensive one, so leaving it is how a small bill turns into a big one.
Repair cost
The gaiter itself is a low-cost part; the labour depends on access and whether alignment is needed after. If there's fluid inside, get the rack assessed before pricing anything.
Before the retest
Replacing a track rod end, rack gaiter or ball joint almost always changes the tracking, so ask for the alignment to be set after the repair rather than left to chance. Before the retest, check the steering wheel sits straight when driving in a straight line and that the car does not wander. A new gaiter should be properly clipped at both ends; a loose clip is an easy re-fail.
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 steering 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.