Vauxhall Mokka and Mokka X MOT pass rate: what 341,052 tests reveal

The Vauxhall Mokka, the Mokka X, and the new Mokka are all the same car. Vauxhall added the "X" badge in 2016 and dropped it again in 2021 when the second generation arrived. If you are searching for any of those names, you are looking at the same model line, and the MOT data covers all of them.

Across 341,052 DVSA MOT tests, the Mokka passes at 76.7% with an average mileage of 58,476. That is a middling result for a compact SUV. It sits above the Nissan Juke (75.3%) but well below the Honda HR-V (88.6%). But the headline number hides a significant improvement between the original Mokka and the latest versions.

The original Mokka (2012 to 2019) was built on GM's Gamma II platform, shared with the Chevrolet Trax. It sold well in the UK: over 340,000 tested so far. But the platform's suspension, particularly the front lower arms and rear trailing arm bushes, wears faster than the competition. Early cars registered in 2012 and 2013 pass at just 72.5% to 73.0%, with average mileages above 87,000.

The second generation (2021 onwards) moved to PSA's CMP platform after the Vauxhall-PSA merger. The transformation shows in the data. The SRI Nav Premium Turbo variant passes at 92.9%. The Elite Nav Premium Turbo hits 91.7%. These are figures that would be strong for any car, let alone one that started life as a budget crossover.

Year by year

The Mokka's MOT story is one of gradual improvement. Early cars hover around 73%, the Mokka X era (2016 onwards) pushes past 75%, and the 2019 models reach 84.2% as the original platform was refined in its final years.

The jump from 2017 (77.9%) to 2019 (84.2%) is notable. Vauxhall refined the suspension calibration and improved component suppliers during this period. Cars registered in 2018 and 2019 also have lower average mileages (35,000 to 42,000), which helps, but the improvement holds even when you account for that.

The 2021 models on the new PSA platform are still too young to generate large MOT sample sizes, but the variant-level data from early tests is extremely promising. The SRI Nav Premium Turbo at 92.9% and Elite Nav Premium Turbo at 91.7% suggest the new Mokka is a fundamentally different proposition.

What goes wrong

The Mokka's weak points are concentrated in the chassis. Suspension and steering components account for the largest share of failures, and these are problems that get worse with mileage.

Suspension dust covers at 5.9% is the standout. Nearly one in seventeen Mokkas fails because a suspension joint dust cover is missing or no longer prevents dirt ingress. This is a known issue on the Gamma II platform and leads to accelerated wear of the joints underneath. Replacement is straightforward but not cheap.

Fractured springs at 2.6% is the second most common failure and well above average. The Mokka's raised ride height and relatively heavy kerb weight (around 1,400 kg) put more stress on the springs than a conventional hatchback. Combined with UK road surfaces, springs corrode and fracture more often than on lower-riding rivals. This is particularly common on 2013 to 2016 models. Vauxhall issued a technical bulletin for front coil spring corrosion on early Mokkas. If you hear a clunk over bumps, check the springs before they snap completely.

A pre-MOT check through BookMyGarage can catch worn bushes, dodgy ball joints, and cracked springs before they become a formal failure. Fixing them on your own terms is usually cheaper than failing and rebooking.

How it compares to rivals

The Mokka competes in the compact crossover segment, one of the most competitive in the UK. Its 76.7% overall pass rate puts it in the middle of the pack.

The Honda HR-V at 88.6% is the class leader by a wide margin. The Mazda CX-3 at 87.3% is the next best. The Mokka sits just below the Peugeot 2008 (76.1%) and just above the Nissan Juke (75.3%). It is a below-average result for the segment, though not the worst.

The interesting comparison is between the late Mokka X models and the competition. A 2019 Mokka X at 84.2% is competitive with the Renault Captur and Fiat 500X, and only a few points behind the HR-V. If you are buying a 2018 or 2019 Mokka X, you are getting a car that passes its MOT at the same rate as some of the best in class.

The buying advice

If you are shopping for a used Mokka or Mokka X, the registration year matters more than the badge. A 2013 Mokka at 72.5% and a 2019 Mokka X at 84.2% are separated by almost 12 percentage points, and that gap translates directly into MOT costs and hassle.

Target 2017 or later for the best balance of price and MOT performance. These cars pass at 77.9% or better, and many will still have relatively low mileage (under 50,000). The 2018 and 2019 Mokka X models are the sweet spot: pass rates above 80%, prices that have depreciated significantly, and enough have been tested to trust the data.

If you can stretch to the 2021 second generation Mokka, the early variant data is very strong. But check our Vauxhall Mokka MOT data page for the latest figures as more tests come through.

Whichever year you buy, budget for suspension work on higher-mileage examples. Get underneath the car (or pay a mechanic to) and check the bushes, ball joints, and springs before you commit. The Mokka is a solid small SUV, but its chassis wears faster than some rivals.