Vauxhall Vectra
From 46,149 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Vectras fare better: 2009 models pass at 66.2% vs 70.6% for 1999.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 3,736 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 3,736 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,126 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,000 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 1,723 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 1,487 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,404 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 1,370 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,143 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,100 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 1,047 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 25.8% of Vectra failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 40.5% 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 £148.
Vauxhall Vectra on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 8,367 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 2 newly registered, a net loss of 8,365. At this rate, roughly 5.9 years until none remain. Now at 8% of its peak (616,929 in 2007 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 19,880 | 29,473 | +0 | -1,493 | -1,493 |
| 2025 Q2 | 21,416 | 29,430 | +0 | -1,584 | -1,584 |
| 2025 Q1 | 22,967 | 29,463 | +1 | -2,476 | -2,475 |
| 2024 Q4 | 24,758 | 30,147 | +1 | -2,814 | -2,813 |
| 2024 Q3 | 26,672 | 31,046 | +0 | -2,359 | -2,359 |
| 2024 Q2 | 28,714 | 31,363 | +0 | -2,058 | -2,058 |
| 2024 Q1 | 30,687 | 31,448 | +0 | -2,266 | -2,266 |
| 2023 Q4 | 33,089 | 31,312 | +0 | -2,037 | -2,037 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vectra Exclusiv | Gas | 3,769 | 24% |
| Vectra Sri | Petrol | 2,632 | 17% |
| Vectra Life | Petrol | 1,461 | 9% |
| Vectra Sri Cdti 150 | Diesel | 1,244 | 8% |
| Vectra Design | Petrol | 1,070 | 7% |
| Vectra Exclusiv Cdti 120 | Diesel | 1,060 | 7% |
| Vectra Exclusiv Cdti 150 | Diesel | 661 | 4% |
| Vectra Sri Nav | Petrol | 472 | 3% |
| Vectra Ls 16V | Petrol | 408 | 3% |
| Vectra Sri Cdti | Diesel | 405 | 3% |
| Vectra Sri Cdti 150 A | Diesel | 355 | 2% |
| Vectra Elite Cdti 150 | Diesel | 351 | 2% |
| Vectra Vxr | Petrol | 314 | 2% |
| Vectra Club 16V | Gas | 273 | 2% |
| Vectra Design Cdti 150 | Diesel | 264 | 2% |
| Vectra Exclus Cdti 150 A | Diesel | 252 | 2% |
| Vectra Elite Cdti 150 A | Petrol | 245 | 2% |
| Vectra Gsi V6 | Diesel | 217 | 1% |
| Vectra Sri Cdti 120 | Diesel | 203 | 1% |
| Vectra Club | Gas | 197 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 66.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2008 | 66% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2007 | 66.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 66.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
9 earlier years
| 2005 | 65.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 64.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 66.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 69.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2001 | 65.8% | a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources, 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 |
| 2000 | 67.8% | 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, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 1999 | 70.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 1998 | 68.5% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 1997 | 72.5% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Vectras tested had between 82,452 and 127,116 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 98,397 median miles, the Vectra has 0.034 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 Vectra MOT pass rate?
The Vauxhall Vectra has a 66.3% MOT pass rate based on 46,149 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Vectra?
The most common MOT failure on the Vauxhall Vectra is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 3,736 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Vauxhall Vectras are on UK roads?
There are 19,880 Vauxhall Vectras currently licensed on UK roads, with 29,473 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Vauxhall Vectra at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Vauxhall Vectra is 98,397 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 82,452 and 127,116 miles.
Buying a used Vectra?
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 66.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £148 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 25.8% 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.