Vauxhall Omega
From 2,019 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 154 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.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 154 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 99 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 96 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 73 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 49 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 45 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 37 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 33 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 32 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 27 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 36.6% of Omega failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 30.2% 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 £182.
Vauxhall Omega on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 318 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 317. At this rate, roughly 11.8 years until none remain. Now at 3.6% of its peak (104,504 in 2003 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 719 | 3,023 | +0 | -31 | -31 |
| 2025 Q2 | 748 | 3,025 | +0 | -33 | -33 |
| 2025 Q1 | 761 | 3,045 | +0 | -103 | -103 |
| 2024 Q4 | 802 | 3,107 | +1 | -151 | -150 |
| 2024 Q3 | 881 | 3,178 | +0 | -112 | -112 |
| 2024 Q2 | 947 | 3,224 | +0 | -77 | -77 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,012 | 3,236 | +0 | -61 | -61 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,075 | 3,234 | +0 | -62 | -62 |
5 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega Elite V6 Auto | Gas | 138 | 29% |
| Omega Cd Auto | Gas | 117 | 24% |
| Omega Cdx V6 Auto | Petrol | 96 | 20% |
| Omega Cdx Auto | Gas | 79 | 16% |
| Omega Cd V6 Auto | Petrol | 54 | 11% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 71.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 70.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2001 | 71.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2000 | 71% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
1 earlier years
| 1999 | 78.9% | emissions levels exceed default limits, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Omegas tested had between 72,456 and 115,744 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 93,073 median miles, the Omega has 0.031 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 Omega MOT pass rate?
The Vauxhall Omega has a 71.3% MOT pass rate based on 2,019 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Omega?
The most common MOT failure on the Vauxhall Omega is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 154 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Vauxhall Omegas are on UK roads?
There are 719 Vauxhall Omegas currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,023 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Vauxhall Omega at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Vauxhall Omega is 93,073 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 72,456 and 115,744 miles.
Buying a used Omega?
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 71.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £182 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 36.6% 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.