A road spring has snapped. It's usually the bottom coil that goes, and the broken end can sit close enough to the tyre to damage it. This is one of the few suspension defects where the wording is unambiguous — there's no interpretation needed.
Wording as it commonly appears on an MOT certificate: “Coil spring fractured or broken”.
What does it mean?
A road spring has snapped. It's usually the bottom coil that goes, and the broken end can sit close enough to the tyre to damage it. This is one of the few suspension defects where the wording is unambiguous — there's no interpretation needed.
How serious is it?
Usually recorded as: Dangerous. The tester assesses the actual vehicle on the day, so your certificate is what counts.
What normally causes it?
- Corrosion pitting at the bottom of the coil where water and grit collect
- Fatigue on a high-mileage car, often triggered by a pothole
- Cheap replacement springs fitted previously
What a mechanic would check
Torch on both springs on that axle and follow every coil round, especially the bottom two. I'd check the tyre sidewall for rub marks and check the ride height side to side. If one has gone, I'd look hard at the other — they've had identical lives.
What might need replacing
- Springs replaced in pairs across that axle
- Spring seats or isolators, which are usually perished by then
- A tyre, if the broken end has been cutting into the sidewall
Can you still drive it?
Commonly recorded as Dangerous. A broken spring end can slice a tyre without warning, and the car's handling and ride height are already compromised. Don't drive it — get it recovered or repaired where it stands.
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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.