Over 9,000 vehicles marked 'failed dangerous' at Cork NCT tests in first half of this year

New figures reveal that over 9,000 vehicles in Cork recieved a 'failed dangerous' grade during their NCT safety test in the first six months of this year.

A total of 9,288 of vehicles submitted for a the national car test were categorised under the failed grade at centres across Cork.

Cars that are deemed failed dangerous will have a sticker stating their condition affixed to them by an NCT vehicle inspector, with motorists being advised they should have their vehicle towed away.

The figure is an increase on the same period for 2025, when 8,504 vehicles were marked 'failed dangerous', and the 8,674 figure for 2024.

In 2023, the failed dangerous figure for Cork between January and June was 6,701, with a figure of 5,214 recorded for the same period in 2022.

Of the Cork locations where tests were carried out this year, 3,044 vehicles received a failed dangerous grade at the Little Island NCT test centre, while 2,385 received the same status in Blarney.

There were failed dangerous figures of 1,064 in Skibbereen, 1,012 in Macroom, 971 in Charleville and 812 in Youghal.

SHOULD NOT BE USED ON THE ROAD

The failed dangerous classification is given to vehicles regarded as having a dangerous defect which “constitutes a direct or immediate risk to road safety such that the vehicle should not be used on the road under any circumstances.” 

A spokesperson from the Road Safety Authority told The Echo: “Vehicle owners need to embrace year-round responsibility for maintaining their cars, rather than relying on the National Car Test (NCT) to identify faults.

“Customer satisfaction surveys have continuously highlighted the disappointing culture of vehicle owners using the NCT as a diagnostic tool, contributing to inefficiencies in the system and increasing risks to road safety.

“Vehicles that “fail dangerous” pose a direct and immediate risk to road safety and it is an offence to drive a vehicle with dangerous defects on public roads.” 

The RSA spokesperson added that tyres are the leading cause of "fail dangerous" results, often due to tread depths below the legal limit of 1.6mm.

A study published by the RSA in 2025 revealed that 21% of vehicles which were involved in driver fatalities, between 2016 and 2020, had at least one defect recorded by a forensic collision investigator.

This included 13% of vehicles that had a defect in relation to their tyres, with 4% having a defect in relation to their brakes.