Vauxhall common problems and MOT failures

From 4,741,627 MOT tests in 2024, 26.7% of Vauxhall vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.

Top Vauxhall MOT failure reasons

#	Problem	Occurrences	% of failures
1	suspension pin, bush or joint worn	157,995	16.9%
2	spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	147,942	15.8%
3	tyre tread depth outside legal limits	100,532	10.8%
4	the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements	83,459	8.9%
5	tyre seriously damaged	83,302	8.9%
6	brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	83,207	8.9%
7	wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	72,832	7.8%
8	lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	69,566	7.4%
9	windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	69,259	7.4%
10	engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction	65,726	7.0%

What this means if you're buying a Vauxhall

The single most common MOT failure for Vauxhall is suspension pin, bush or joint worn, accounting for 17% of all failure items. Suspension repairs typically cost £150–£400 depending on the component.

These figures are from real MOT inspections. They show what testers actually find wrong with Vauxhall vehicles. If you're viewing a used Vauxhall, it's worth checking these areas specifically.

Vauxhall models by MOT pass rate

Lowest pass rates first. These models have the most testable issues.

Model	Tests	Pass rate
Monterey	403	62.5%
Tigra	12,999	65.3%
Corsavan	6,531	65.3%
Vectra	46,149	66.3%
Astravan	12,267	66.7%
Vivaro	356,488	67.2%
Antara	40,539	67.3%
Signum	1,961	68.7%
Rascal	587	68.7%
Combo	146,819	68.8%
Movano L3H1 R3500 Cdti	351	68.9%
Movano	90,192	69.2%
Combo 2300 Edition Td S/S	1,188	69.3%
Zafira	314,942	69.9%
Agila	57,081	70.1%

Buying a specific Vauxhall? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.

Check MOT history on GOV.UK