Vauxhall Meriva
From 150,464 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Merivas fare better: 2017 models pass at 80.8% vs 59.8% for 2003.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 8,033 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 8,033 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 5,252 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 3,709 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 3,423 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,359 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,949 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 2,844 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 2,676 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 2,598 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 2,536 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 28.3% of Meriva failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 47.5% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £145.
Vauxhall Meriva on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 9,368 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 9,367. At this rate, roughly 9 years until none remain. Now at 52.4% of its peak (160,056 in 2016 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 75,311 | 8,591 | +0 | -2,371 | -2,371 |
| 2025 Q2 | 77,893 | 8,380 | +0 | -2,588 | -2,588 |
| 2025 Q1 | 80,575 | 8,286 | +0 | -2,178 | -2,178 |
| 2024 Q4 | 82,844 | 8,195 | +1 | -2,231 | -2,230 |
| 2024 Q3 | 85,163 | 8,106 | +0 | -2,504 | -2,504 |
| 2024 Q2 | 87,820 | 7,953 | +0 | -2,270 | -2,270 |
| 2024 Q1 | 90,244 | 7,799 | +0 | -2,339 | -2,339 |
| 2023 Q4 | 92,806 | 7,576 | +0 | -1,794 | -1,794 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meriva Life | Petrol | 8,720 | 15% |
| Meriva Tech Line | Petrol | 8,655 | 15% |
| Meriva Se | Gas | 6,121 | 10% |
| Meriva Exclusiv Ac | Petrol | 3,271 | 6% |
| Meriva Active | Diesel | 3,215 | 6% |
| Meriva Se Cdti Auto | Diesel | 2,922 | 5% |
| Meriva Exclusiv | Diesel | 2,861 | 5% |
| Meriva Se Turbo | Petrol | 2,728 | 5% |
| Meriva Life Twinport | Petrol | 2,465 | 4% |
| Meriva Club | Petrol | 2,381 | 4% |
| Meriva Design | Petrol | 2,116 | 4% |
| Meriva Exclusiv Cdti | Diesel | 2,075 | 4% |
| Meriva Exclusiv Cdti Auto | Diesel | 1,957 | 3% |
| Meriva Exclusiv Ac Auto | Petrol | 1,758 | 3% |
| Meriva Se Auto | Petrol | 1,338 | 2% |
| Meriva Se Cdti | Diesel | 1,289 | 2% |
| Meriva Breeze | Petrol | 1,286 | 2% |
| Meriva Se Turbo 118 | Petrol | 1,145 | 2% |
| Meriva Exclusiv Ac Cdti Auto | Diesel | 1,068 | 2% |
| Meriva Exclusiv Turbo 118 | Petrol | 975 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 80.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 80.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 77.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 76.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
11 earlier years
| 2013 | 74.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2012 | 73.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 72.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 67.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 63.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 62.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2007 | 62.2% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2006 | 60.7% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2005 | 61.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2004 | 62% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 59.8% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
Typical mileage
Half of all Merivas tested had between 67,713 and 97,146 miles on the clock.
At 83,098 median miles, the Meriva has 0.035 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Vauxhall models
| Vauxhall Corsa | 70.9% |
| Vauxhall Astra | 72.5% |
| Vauxhall Vivaro | 67.2% |
| Vauxhall Mokka | 76.7% |
| Vauxhall Insignia | 75.3% |
Common questions
What is the Vauxhall Meriva MOT pass rate?
The Vauxhall Meriva has a 70.9% MOT pass rate based on 150,464 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Meriva?
The most common MOT failure on the Vauxhall Meriva is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 8,033 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Vauxhall Merivas are on UK roads?
There are 75,311 Vauxhall Merivas currently licensed on UK roads, with 8,591 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Vauxhall Meriva at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Vauxhall Meriva is 83,098 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 67,713 and 97,146 miles.
Buying a used Meriva?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 70.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £145 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 28.3% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.