Number of dangerously defective cars on Irish roads at record levels

Latest NCTS figures also show the pass rate for the full test has fallen to its lowest level in five years at 50.6% — down from 52.9% in 2023 and the recent high rate of 54.3% in 2022.

The number of dangerously defective cars being driven on Irish roads has reached a record level, with more than 128,000 vehicles being classified as “fail dangerous” when submitted for a NCT last year.

Figures published by the National Car Testing Service show a total of 128,548 cars were found to be unroadworthy to a dangerous level while being checked at a NCT test centre during 2024.