Vauxhall Rascal
From 587 MOT tests. Below 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.. 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 44 failures in 2024. 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 | 44 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 34 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 29 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 27 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 22 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 21 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 20 |
| audible warning inoperative | 18 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 18 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 17 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 24.4% of Rascal failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 18.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £135.
Vauxhall Rascal on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 13 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 12. At this rate, roughly 63.1 years until none remain. Now at 5.7% of its peak (8,835 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 131 | 374 | +1 | -0 | +4 |
| 2025 Q2 | 133 | 368 | +0 | -0 | +2 |
| 2025 Q1 | 129 | 370 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
| 2024 Q4 | 134 | 371 | +0 | -7 | -7 |
| 2024 Q3 | 140 | 372 | +0 | -12 | -12 |
| 2024 Q2 | 148 | 376 | +0 | -0 | +8 |
| 2024 Q1 | 144 | 372 | +0 | -7 | -7 |
| 2023 Q4 | 146 | 377 | +0 | -5 | -5 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 67.6% | 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, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 1991 | 66.8% | emissions levels exceed default limits, 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 |
| 1990 | 68.9% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Rascals tested had between 30,620 and 79,443 miles on the clock.
At 58,110 median miles, the Rascal has 0.054 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 Rascal MOT pass rate?
The Vauxhall Rascal has a 68.7% MOT pass rate based on 587 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Rascal?
The most common MOT failure on the Vauxhall Rascal 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 44 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Vauxhall Rascals are on UK roads?
There are 131 Vauxhall Rascals currently licensed on UK roads, with 374 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Vauxhall Rascal at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Vauxhall Rascal is 58,110 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 30,620 and 79,443 miles.
Buying a used Rascal?
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 68.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £135 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.