Vauxhall Vivaro
From 356,488 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Vivaros fare better: 2020 models pass at 80.8% vs 63.5% for 2002.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 38,405 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 38,405 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 26,540 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 9,917 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 9,355 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 9,297 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 8,822 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 8,026 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 7,856 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 6,926 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 6,760 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 69.3% of Vivaro failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 12.8% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £159.
Vauxhall Vivaro on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 15,602 newly registered in the past year with 9,628 leaving, a net gain of 5,974. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 269,971 | 27,054 | +3,758 | -2,192 | +1,566 |
| 2025 Q2 | 268,150 | 27,309 | +2,173 | -2,495 | -322 |
| 2025 Q1 | 268,356 | 27,425 | +4,197 | -2,292 | +1,905 |
| 2024 Q4 | 268,058 | 25,818 | +5,474 | -2,649 | +2,825 |
| 2024 Q3 | 267,669 | 23,382 | +4,596 | -3,061 | +1,535 |
| 2024 Q2 | 267,200 | 22,316 | +3,962 | -2,321 | +1,641 |
| 2024 Q1 | 265,422 | 22,453 | +4,843 | -3,724 | +1,119 |
| 2023 Q4 | 265,202 | 21,554 | +5,655 | -2,474 | +3,181 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivaro 2900 Sportive Cdti | Diesel | 20,911 | 13% |
| Vivaro F2900 Prime S/S | Diesel | 11,355 | 7% |
| Vivaro 2700 Sportive Cdti | Diesel | 11,283 | 7% |
| Vivaro 2900 Cdti | Diesel | 11,042 | 7% |
| Vivaro 2900 Cdti Lwb | Diesel | 10,744 | 7% |
| Vivaro 2700 Cdti Swb | Diesel | 9,210 | 6% |
| Vivaro 2900 Sportive Cdti Lwb | Diesel | 8,444 | 5% |
| Vivaro-E 3100 Dynamic | Battery Electric | 8,214 | 5% |
| Vivaro 2700 Cdti | Diesel | 8,194 | 5% |
| Vivaro 2900 Dynamic S/S | Diesel | 7,352 | 5% |
| Vivaro 2900 Sportive S/S | Diesel | 6,697 | 4% |
| Vivaro 2900 Sport Cdti Bt Ss | Diesel | 6,681 | 4% |
| Vivaro F2900 Dynamic S/S | Diesel | 5,473 | 3% |
| Vivaro F2900 Pro S/S | Diesel | 5,414 | 3% |
| Vivaro 2900 Cdti Swb | Diesel | 5,295 | 3% |
| Vivaro 2700 Sport Cdti Bt Ss | Diesel | 4,776 | 3% |
| Vivaro 2700 Cdti 113 Swb | Diesel | 4,677 | 3% |
| Vivaro 3100 Sportive S/S | Diesel | 4,629 | 3% |
| Vivaro F3100 Prime Ev | Battery Electric | 4,524 | 3% |
| Vivaro 2900 Bt Cdti Ecoflex Ss | Diesel | 4,363 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 80.8% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 76.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2018 | 74.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2017 | 71.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
16 earlier years
| 2016 | 71.3% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2015 | 69.9% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2014 | 66% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2013 | 64.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2012 | 63.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2011 | 63.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2010 | 62.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2009 | 62.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2008 | 62.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2007 | 61.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2006 | 62% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2005 | 64.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2004 | 62.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2003 | 63.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 63.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 73.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
Typical mileage
Half of all Vivaros tested had between 76,162 and 137,072 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 96,010 median miles, the Vivaro has 0.034 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Vauxhall models
| Vauxhall Corsa | 70.9% |
| Vauxhall Astra | 72.5% |
| Vauxhall Mokka | 76.7% |
| Vauxhall Insignia | 75.3% |
| Vauxhall Zafira | 69.9% |
Common questions
What is the Vauxhall Vivaro MOT pass rate?
The Vauxhall Vivaro has a 67.2% MOT pass rate based on 356,488 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Vivaro?
The most common MOT failure on the Vauxhall Vivaro is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 38,405 failures. Other common issues include a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play.
How many Vauxhall Vivaros are on UK roads?
There are 269,971 Vauxhall Vivaros currently licensed on UK roads, with 27,054 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Vauxhall Vivaro at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Vauxhall Vivaro is 96,010 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,162 and 137,072 miles.
Buying a used Vivaro?
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 67.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £159 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.