Verdict
Vauxhall cars pass their MOT first time on 64.6% of tests, against 69.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats only 25% of cars on UK roads and ranks Vauxhall 33rd of 40 makes, well behind Volkswagen, Toyota and Škoda.
No Vauxhall model does much better than a typical car. The best is the Insignia, beating 55% of cars, followed by the Grandland (2018 on, 46%) and the Viva (41%).
The most tested model does poorly: the Corsa beats only 13%, while the Astra beats 42%, a little below average. Check the Adam (7%), Antara (10%) and Tigra (16%) most carefully; the Mokka beats only 18%, the Zafira 34% and the Crossland 32%. The Vivaro and Combo vans beat only 10% and 14%, partly from hard commercial use.
Vauxhalls fail more often than a typical car in almost every MOT area: suspension about 1.4 times as often (on about 13% of tests), emissions and leaks and steering about 1.4 times, visibility about 1.3 times and brakes about 1.2 times. Only seat belts and airbags, and wheels, fail less often than typical.
Where it fails
Every Vauxhall compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Vauxhall models
Models with 20,000+ MOT tests, most common first. 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. Light vans are included and tend to grade lower, partly from hard commercial use.
| Model first registered | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corsa 1994–2023 | 63.1% | Beats 13% | E |
| Astra 1993–2023 | 64.1% | Beats 42% | C |
| Zafira 1999–2018 | 61.0% | Beats 34% | D |
| Insignia 2009–2022 | 69.9% | Beats 55% | C |
| Mokka 2012–2023 | 76.2% | Beats 18% | E |
| Vivaro 2001–2023 | 56.8% | Beats 10% | E |
| Meriva 2003–2017 | 62.9% | Beats 27% | D |
| Combo 2001–2023 | 58.3% | Beats 14% | E |
| Vectra 1998–2009 | 50.7% | Beats 35% | D |
| Adam 2013–2019 | 73.2% | Beats 7% | E |
| Agila 2000–2015 | 64.6% | Beats 32% | D |
| Grandland 2018–2023 | 84.9% | Beats 46% | C |
| Crossland 2017–2023 | 85.0% | Beats 32% | D |
| Viva 2015–2019 | 84.0% | Beats 41% | C |
| Antara 2007–2016 | 60.2% | Beats 10% | E |
| Tigra 2004–2009 | 51.4% | Beats 16% | E |
| Astra GTC 2012–2015 | 75.9% | Beats 34% | D |
FAQ
What is the Vauxhall MOT pass rate?
64.6% of Vauxhall MOT tests were passed first time, from 26.7 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 69.3%, so Vauxhalls do clearly worse than typical.
Is Vauxhall reliable?
On MOT results it is below average: Vauxhall beats only 25% of cars on UK roads and ranks 33rd of 40 makes. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Vauxhall model is most reliable?
The Insignia, which beats a little over half of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account. The Grandland, Viva and Astra are a little below average.
Which Vauxhall should I check most carefully?
The Adam and Antara, which each beat about one in ten cars or fewer, and the Corsa, which beats only about one in eight. The Tigra and Mokka beat fewer than one in five, and the Vivaro and Combo vans also do poorly.
What are the most common MOT failures on Vauxhalls?
Lights and electrics (about 1 in 7 tests), suspension (about 13% of tests), brakes and tyres. Suspension, steering and emissions and leaks fail about 1.4 times as often as on a typical car of the same age and mileage.