Verdict
The 2016 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 petrol passes its MOT first time on 81.8% of tests, against 81.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats 58% of cars on UK roads, ahead of the Astra as a whole, which beats about four in ten.
Its small lead fades with age: about 1–2 points more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage from 3 to 6 years old, about 1 point at 7 and 8, then about level at 9 and about 3 points behind at 10. Across all years of the 1.4 petrol, most of them older cars that do worse, it falls behind as miles rise: about 2 points behind at 60,000 miles and about 7 at 140,000.
2016 is where this engine turns around: 2016–2019 cars beat a little over half of cars, while 2015 cars beat about one in four and 2014 cars, the worst year, slightly fewer. Other 2016 engines do about the same: the 1.0 petrol beats a little over half of cars, the 1.6 diesel about half and the rarer 2.0 petrol slightly more.
The weak spot is the tyre pressure warning (TPMS): it fails about 4.2 times as often as on a typical car and is the most common fail, on about 1 in 29 tests, which puts tyres overall at about 1.4 times. Brake pads and windscreen washers fail about 1.5 times as often. Suspension fails less than half as often as on a typical car.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT.
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)
The most common fail, on about 1 in 29 tests, 4.3 times as often as on a typical car. Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up, and ask whether any sensors have been replaced. - Brake pads
Fail about 1.5 times as often as on a typical car (about 1 in 35 tests) and are an advisory on about 1 in 9 tests. Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash. - Windscreen washers
Fail about 1.5 times as often as on a typical car, on about 1 in 50 tests. Check both jets spray onto the screen and top up the fluid before the MOT. - Engine warning light
Fails more often than on a typical car, though only on about 1 in 100 tests. It should go out once the engine starts; if it stays on, get the fault codes read. - Engine oil leaks
An advisory on about 1 in 28 tests, about 3 times the typical rate. Look under the car and around the engine for oil. - Tyre damage
An advisory on about 1 in 8 tests, 1.4 times the typical rate. Check both sidewalls of every tyre for cuts, bulges and cracking.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) | 3.5% | 0.8% | 4.2× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 2.9% | 3.1% | 0.9× |
| Brake pads | 2.8% | 1.8% | 1.5× |
| Windscreen washers | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.5× |
| Tyre tread depth | 1.9% | 2.0% | 1.0× |
| Headlight aim | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.0× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 1.3% | 0.9% | 1.5× |
| Brake lights | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.2× |
| Engine warning light | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.5× |
| Sidelights | 0.8% | 0.7% | 1.1× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | 34.7 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 26.9 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 20.6 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 20.0 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 19.1 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 19.0 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 11.0 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 10.2 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Advisories
Not a fail yet, but likely to need attention soon.
| Item | Share of tests | vs typical |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread depth | 13.4% | 0.8× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 13.0% | 1.4× |
| Brake pads | 10.9% | 1.4× |
| Brake discs | 9.6% | 1.1× |
| Engine oil leaks | 3.6% | 3.0× |
| Brake performance | 1.0% | 0.9× |
| Exhaust system | 1.0% | 1.1× |
| Suspension ball joints | 0.9% | 1.6× |
Best and worst years
Astra 1.4 Petrol by year, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Other 2016 Astra engines
Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 81.8% | Beats 58% | C |
| 1.6 Diesel | 77.2% | Beats 49% | C |
| 1.0 Petrol | 80.5% | Beats 56% | C |
| 1.6 Petrol | 81.0% | Beats 52% | C |
| 2.0 Diesel | 79.2% | Beats 52% | C |
| 2.0 Petrol | 82.9% | Beats 60% | B |
FAQ
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 petrol?
81.8% of MOT tests on the 2016 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 petrol were passed first time, from 206,497 tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 81.0%.
Is the 2016 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 petrol reliable?
On MOT results it is a little above average: it beats 58% of cars on UK roads, much better than older Astras. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
What are the most common MOT failures on the 2016 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 petrol?
The tyre pressure warning (about 1 in 29 tests, 4.2 times the typical rate), tyre damage, brake pads and windscreen washers.
Which Vauxhall Astra 1.4 petrol years are best?
Cars from 2016 to 2019 beat a little over half of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account. Every earlier year of this engine does worse than a typical car, and 2014 and 2015 cars beat only about one in four.
Which 2016 Vauxhall Astra engine is best?
There is little between them. The 1.4 petrol and 1.0 petrol both beat a little over half of cars on UK roads, the 1.6 diesel about half and the rarer 2.0 petrol slightly more.