Verdict
The Vauxhall Adam passes its MOT first time on 73.2% of tests, 6.9 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (80.1%). That puts it ahead of 7% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2013 Adam does best (beats 23% of cars) and the 2019 worst (beats 1%).
Of its engines, the 1.4 Petrol does best (beats 11%) and the 1.2 Petrol worst (beats 6%).
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, 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.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 73.4% | Beats 6% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 72.5% | Beats 11% | E |
| 1.0 Petrol | 77.2% | Beats 17% | E |
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
- Shock absorbers 7.4× typical
Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers. - Track rod ends 4.9× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres. - Windscreen wipers 2.0× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Coil springs 2.3× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Engine warning light 2.4× typical
The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy. - Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) 1.5× typical
Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windscreen wipers | 4.1% | 2.1% | 2.0× |
| Shock absorbers | 3.9% | 0.5% | 7.4× |
| Track rod ends | 3.7% | 0.8% | 4.9× |
| Coil springs | 3.6% | 1.6% | 2.3× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 2.6% | 3.0% | 0.9× |
| Windscreen washers | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.5× |
| Headlight aim | 2.2% | 1.9% | 1.1× |
| Tyre tread depth | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.2× |
| Brake pads | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.0× |
| Engine warning light | 1.4% | 0.6% | 2.4× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 41.2 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 37.6 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 36.4 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 34.6 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 22.3 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 21.9 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 21.5 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 18.4 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its 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.
2019 Vauxhall Adam1 engine79.9% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 79.9% | Beats 1% | E |
2018 Vauxhall Adam2 engines77.4% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 77.1% | Beats 1% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 80.0% | Beats 5% | E |
2017 Vauxhall Adam2 engines75.6% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 75.8% | Beats 2% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 74.9% | Beats 3% | E |
2016 Vauxhall Adam3 engines74.4% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 74.0% | Beats 3% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 75.3% | Beats 6% | E |
| 1.0 Petrol | 78.5% | Beats 10% | E |
2015 Vauxhall Adam3 engines73.7% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 73.0% | Beats 6% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 74.3% | Beats 8% | E |
| 1.0 Petrol | 76.7% | Beats 20% | E |
2014 Vauxhall Adam2 engines70.7% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol | 70.5% | Beats 11% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 71.1% | Beats 14% | E |
2013 Vauxhall Adam2 engines69.1% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 69.0% | Beats 22% | D |
| 1.2 Petrol | 69.1% | Beats 23% | D |
FAQ
What is the Vauxhall Adam MOT pass rate?
73.2% of MOT tests on the Vauxhall Adam were passed first time, based on 459,601 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2013–2019. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 80.1% of the time.
Is the Vauxhall Adam reliable?
On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 7% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Vauxhall Adam year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2013 Adam does best for its age and mileage: it beats 23% of cars on UK roads. The 2019 does worst: it beats 1%.
Which Vauxhall Adam engine is best?
Across all years, the 1.4 Petrol does best: it beats 11% of cars on UK roads. The 1.2 Petrol does worst: it beats 6%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Adam?
The most common failure items are windscreen wipers, shock absorbers, track rod ends. Compared with similar cars, shock absorbers comes up 7.4× as often.