Vauxhall Viva
From 53,133 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Vivas fare better: 2019 models pass at 87.8% vs 80.9% for 2015.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative and wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 1,137 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 tyre seriously damaged | 1,137 |
| a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | 906 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 895 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 662 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 653 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 472 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 432 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 417 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 394 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 299 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 48.5% of failures are serious: 42.3% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 6.3% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £85.
Vauxhall Viva on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 127 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 124.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 37,369 | 1,015 | +1 | -34 | -33 |
| 2025 Q2 | 37,434 | 983 | +1 | -37 | -36 |
| 2025 Q1 | 37,511 | 942 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
| 2024 Q4 | 37,618 | 871 | +1 | -20 | -19 |
| 2024 Q3 | 37,669 | 839 | +0 | -35 | -35 |
| 2024 Q2 | 37,717 | 826 | +1 | -76 | -75 |
| 2024 Q1 | 37,798 | 820 | +0 | -22 | -22 |
| 2023 Q4 | 37,851 | 789 | +0 | -0 | +52 |
9 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viva Se Ac | Petrol | 14,468 | 39% |
| Viva Se | Petrol | 10,433 | 28% |
| Viva Sl | Petrol | 9,444 | 25% |
| Viva Rocks | Petrol | 1,123 | 3% |
| Viva Sl S-A | Petrol | 737 | 2% |
| Viva Se Ecoflex | Petrol | 420 | 1% |
| Viva Deluxe | Petrol | 199 | <1% |
| Viva | Petrol | 184 | <1% |
| Viva 1256 | Petrol | 77 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 87.8% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 87.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2017 | 85.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2016 | 83.3% | a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
1 earlier years
| 2015 | 80.9% | a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Vivas tested had between 20,917 and 46,291 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 31,348 median miles, the Viva has 0.049 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 Viva MOT pass rate?
The Vauxhall Viva has a 84.7% MOT pass rate based on 53,133 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Viva?
The most common MOT failure on the Vauxhall Viva is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 1,137 failures. Other common issues include a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative.
How many Vauxhall Vivas are on UK roads?
There are 37,369 Vauxhall Vivas currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,015 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Vauxhall Viva at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Vauxhall Viva is 31,348 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 20,917 and 46,291 miles.
Buying a used Viva?
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 84.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £85 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.