Vauxhall Astra Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Vauxhall Astra passes its MOT first time on 64.1% of tests, against 65.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats 42% of cars on UK roads: about average. The Ford Focus, Honda Civic, VW Golf, Toyota Auris and Škoda Octavia do better; the Peugeot 308, Kia Ceed, Hyundai i30 and Renault Megane do worse.

Up to about 4 years old it passes as often as a typical car of the same age and mileage; from 5 years it falls 1–2 percentage points behind, and the gap widens to about 3 points by 18–20 years.

Cars from 2016 and 2017 do best, beating just over half of cars, with 2010–2013 cars close behind. Cars from before 2010 beat only a little over a third, and 2014 and 2015 are weak years among the newer ones.

Coil springs are the Astra's weak spot: they fail on about 1 in 14 tests, 2.3 times the typical rate, and on about 1 in 9 tests of 2005–2009 cars. Better than average on steering and seat belts.

Watch these weak spots

Emissions & leaks1.4×as often as a typical car

Coil springs2.3×as often as a typical car

Exhaust system1.6×as often as a typical car

Engine warning light1.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Vauxhall AstraTypical car, same age & mileage

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.

Beats 41%

Beats 32%

Beats 19%

Beats 23%

Beats 25%

Beats 21%

Beats 29%

Beats 37%

Beats 44%

Beats 39%

Beats 43%

Beats 39%

Beats 36%

Beats 35%

Beats 38%

Beats 40%

Beats 32%

Beats 49%

Beats 52%

Beats 51%

Beats 49%

Beats 32%

Beats 34%

Beats 54%

Beats 51%

Beats 46%

Beats 44%

Beats 28%

Beats 38%

Beats 65%

Beats 63%

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	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	1995–2019	1,968,417	60.7%	Beats 38%	D
1.4 Petrol	1993–2019	1,663,531	69.3%	Beats 38%	D
1.7 Diesel	1999–2015	818,788	58.4%	Beats 47%	C
1.8 Petrol	1999–2011	537,945	54.0%	Beats 36%	D
2.0 Diesel	2000–2016	463,891	68.4%	Beats 53%	C
1.6 Diesel	2014–2019	429,702	76.2%	Beats 45%	C
1.9 Diesel	2005–2011	186,474	52.5%	Beats 39%	D
1.0 Petrol	2015–2019	125,730	80.8%	Beats 48%	C
1.2 Diesel	2005–2015	124,541	58.1%	Beats 45%	C
2.0 Petrol	2002–2018	84,623	70.8%	Beats 82%	A
1.2 Petrol	2019–2023	36,933	87.0%	Beats 36%	D
1.3 Diesel	2007–2014	13,453	57.8%	Beats 45%	C
2.2 Petrol	2001–2004	10,537	55.3%	Beats 55%	C
1.5 Diesel	2020–2021	10,011	83.3%	Beats 38%	D
1.3 Petrol	2020–2020	1,690	85.0%	Beats 22%	D

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.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Suspension: 13.7% of tests fail on suspension, against 11.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

14.4% vs 14.9%

Suspension

13.7% vs 11.7%

Brakes

9.7% vs 8.6%

Tyres

8.1% vs 7.2%

Visibility

6.0% vs 5.6%

Emissions & leaks

5.4% vs 3.9%

Body & structure

4.2% vs 4.4%

Steering

1.3% vs 2.4%

Seat belts & airbags

0.7% vs 1.3%

Wheels

0.4% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Coil springs
The Astra's most common MOT fail, on about 1 in 14 tests (2.3 times the typical rate) and 1 in 9 on 2005–2009 cars. Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil and listen for clunks over bumps.
Brake pipes
On 1998–2004 cars brake pipes fail about 2.2 times as often as on a typical car. Look underneath for rusty or flaking pipes along the floor and near each wheel.
Brake pads
Fail about 1.5 times as often as on a typical car on cars from 2010 on. Look through the wheels at the pad thickness and listen for grinding.
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)
On 2016–2021 cars it fails on about 1 in 38 tests, nearly 4 times the typical rate. Make sure no tyre-pressure warning stays on after start-up.
Exhaust and engine warning light
The exhaust system fails about 1.6 times and the engine warning light about 1.4 times as often as on a typical car. Listen for blowing at start-up and make sure the warning light goes out once the engine runs.
Handbrake
Fails about 1.4 times as often as on a typical car on 2005–2009 cars. Check it holds the car on a steep slope.
Windscreen washers
Fail about 1.4 times as often as on a typical car. Top up and test them before the MOT.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Vauxhall AstraTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Coil springs	7.0%	3.1%	2.3×
Headlight aim	4.4%	3.9%	1.1×
Tyre damage & cracking	4.0%	3.7%	1.1×
Windscreen washers	3.5%	2.5%	1.4×
Tyre tread depth	3.3%	3.1%	1.1×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.1%	2.7%	1.1×
Brake pads	3.0%	2.2%	1.3×
Sidelights	2.9%	3.7%	0.8×
Brake lights	2.5%	2.9%	0.9×
Exhaust system	2.3%	1.5%	1.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	70.0
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	43.6
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	38.0
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	34.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	33.2
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	28.1
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	23.5
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	23.2

Check another car

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.

2023 Vauxhall Astra1 engine89.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	2,524	89.8%	Beats 63%	B

2022 Vauxhall Astra1 engine90.2% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	4,214	90.2%	Beats 65%	B

2021 Vauxhall Astra2 engines86.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	13,013	86.9%	Beats 36%	D
1.5 Diesel	3,516	84.1%	Beats 45%	C

2020 Vauxhall Astra3 engines85.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	15,951	85.8%	Beats 25%	D
1.5 Diesel	6,495	82.9%	Beats 35%	D
1.3 Petrol	1,690	85.0%	Beats 22%	D

2019 Vauxhall Astra5 engines84.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	70,747	85.7%	Beats 53%	C
1.6 Diesel	13,659	80.0%	Beats 36%	D
1.0 Petrol	11,608	80.0%	Beats 19%	E
1.6 Petrol	6,088	82.1%	Beats 23%	D
1.2 Petrol	1,231	87.5%	Beats 47%	C

2018 Vauxhall Astra5 engines82.7% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	97,142	84.5%	Beats 53%	C
1.6 Diesel	37,889	78.9%	Beats 43%	C
1.6 Petrol	21,082	81.2%	Beats 26%	D
1.0 Petrol	18,279	82.1%	Beats 39%	D
2.0 Petrol	1,134	89.1%	Beats 78%	B

2017 Vauxhall Astra5 engines81.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	183,592	83.3%	Beats 57%	C
1.6 Diesel	101,656	78.0%	Beats 44%	C
1.0 Petrol	26,922	81.0%	Beats 41%	C
1.6 Petrol	4,657	86.1%	Beats 77%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,126	86.1%	Beats 62%	B

2016 Vauxhall Astra6 engines80.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol report →	206,497	81.8%	Beats 58%	C
1.6 Diesel	152,132	77.2%	Beats 49%	C
1.0 Petrol	63,249	80.5%	Beats 56%	C
1.6 Petrol	14,838	81.0%	Beats 52%	C
2.0 Diesel	3,120	79.2%	Beats 52%	C
2.0 Petrol	2,044	82.9%	Beats 60%	B

2015 Vauxhall Astra8 engines75.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	140,979	75.0%	Beats 25%	D
1.6 Petrol	125,148	76.5%	Beats 33%	D
1.6 Diesel	83,834	73.6%	Beats 44%	C
2.0 Diesel	51,736	74.7%	Beats 43%	C
1.0 Petrol	5,672	80.2%	Beats 57%	C
1.7 Diesel	5,228	68.0%	Beats 15%	E
2.0 Petrol	4,563	82.1%	Beats 65%	B
1.2 Diesel	2,157	70.4%	Beats 38%	D

2014 Vauxhall Astra8 engines70.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	146,665	72.8%	Beats 32%	D
1.4 Petrol	118,928	69.9%	Beats 23%	D
2.0 Diesel	85,278	70.7%	Beats 39%	D
1.7 Diesel	46,971	67.9%	Beats 35%	D
1.6 Diesel	40,532	69.2%	Beats 39%	D
1.2 Diesel	8,013	68.2%	Beats 40%	C
2.0 Petrol	5,585	80.3%	Beats 72%	B
1.3 Diesel	1,454	75.1%	Beats 65%	B

2013 Vauxhall Astra7 engines69.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	158,910	71.4%	Beats 48%	C
2.0 Diesel	120,229	69.0%	Beats 53%	C
1.4 Petrol	112,112	68.8%	Beats 37%	D
1.7 Diesel	96,950	67.6%	Beats 53%	C
1.2 Diesel	13,107	68.1%	Beats 55%	C
2.0 Petrol	6,835	79.8%	Beats 85%	A
1.3 Diesel	1,447	73.6%	Beats 72%	B

2012 Vauxhall Astra6 engines66.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	145,932	67.7%	Beats 45%	C
1.7 Diesel	107,380	66.1%	Beats 59%	C
1.4 Petrol	96,987	66.1%	Beats 40%	C
2.0 Diesel	95,107	66.7%	Beats 57%	C
1.2 Diesel	11,561	66.7%	Beats 60%	B
2.0 Petrol	3,194	74.7%	Beats 74%	B

2011 Vauxhall Astra8 engines64.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	150,535	65.5%	Beats 47%	C
1.7 Diesel	101,703	63.9%	Beats 59%	C
2.0 Diesel	82,624	65.9%	Beats 62%	B
1.4 Petrol	78,284	63.0%	Beats 38%	D
1.2 Diesel	15,060	62.7%	Beats 54%	C
1.9 Diesel	6,432	63.2%	Beats 60%	C
1.8 Petrol	3,413	61.9%	Beats 37%	D
1.3 Diesel	1,042	56.7%	Beats 34%	D

2010 Vauxhall Astra9 engines61.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	217,159	63.0%	Beats 52%	C
1.4 Petrol	141,769	60.6%	Beats 42%	C
1.7 Diesel	78,250	60.1%	Beats 53%	C
1.8 Petrol	35,071	57.9%	Beats 34%	D
2.0 Diesel	17,450	64.9%	Beats 67%	B
1.9 Diesel	13,923	57.2%	Beats 43%	C
1.2 Diesel	10,258	59.2%	Beats 50%	C
2.0 Petrol	6,422	67.9%	Beats 71%	B
1.3 Diesel	1,412	57.2%	Beats 43%	C

2009 Vauxhall Astra8 engines55.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	143,348	55.4%	Beats 31%	D
1.4 Petrol	107,924	55.8%	Beats 27%	D
1.8 Petrol	73,190	55.7%	Beats 30%	D
1.7 Diesel	46,545	54.9%	Beats 42%	C
1.9 Diesel	19,694	55.2%	Beats 42%	C
1.2 Diesel	6,351	53.1%	Beats 34%	D
2.0 Petrol	5,721	68.8%	Beats 81%	A
1.3 Diesel	1,012	50.2%	Beats 26%	D

2008 Vauxhall Astra8 engines54.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	136,585	54.7%	Beats 38%	D
1.8 Petrol	104,578	55.7%	Beats 38%	D
1.4 Petrol	70,342	55.5%	Beats 38%	D
1.9 Diesel	64,839	52.1%	Beats 37%	D
1.7 Diesel	52,997	53.4%	Beats 43%	C
1.2 Diesel	22,086	52.4%	Beats 38%	D
2.0 Petrol	13,571	68.1%	Beats 85%	A
1.3 Diesel	3,075	52.3%	Beats 41%	C

2007 Vauxhall Astra8 engines53.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	163,147	52.7%	Beats 35%	D
1.8 Petrol	118,668	53.8%	Beats 36%	D
1.4 Petrol	80,267	53.0%	Beats 34%	D
1.7 Diesel	58,969	52.3%	Beats 44%	C
1.9 Diesel	48,314	51.2%	Beats 38%	D
1.2 Diesel	23,791	51.4%	Beats 40%	D
2.0 Petrol	10,300	65.3%	Beats 80%	B
1.3 Diesel	4,011	52.3%	Beats 44%	C

2006 Vauxhall Astra7 engines50.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	131,072	49.0%	Beats 29%	D
1.8 Petrol	79,548	52.1%	Beats 35%	D
1.4 Petrol	58,892	50.9%	Beats 33%	D
1.7 Diesel	51,388	50.2%	Beats 41%	C
1.9 Diesel	23,746	50.3%	Beats 41%	C
2.0 Petrol	11,757	64.6%	Beats 81%	A
1.2 Diesel	9,916	50.4%	Beats 41%	C

2005 Vauxhall Astra7 engines49.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	103,529	48.6%	Beats 31%	D
1.8 Petrol	63,722	52.2%	Beats 40%	C
1.7 Diesel	62,635	48.5%	Beats 39%	D
1.4 Petrol	36,294	49.8%	Beats 33%	D
1.9 Diesel	9,526	48.1%	Beats 39%	D
2.0 Petrol	3,770	60.8%	Beats 72%	B
1.2 Diesel	2,241	48.3%	Beats 40%	D

2004 Vauxhall Astra7 engines49.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	66,606	49.7%	Beats 34%	D
1.7 Diesel	45,329	47.8%	Beats 41%	C
1.8 Petrol	23,997	51.8%	Beats 44%	C
1.4 Petrol	21,782	49.7%	Beats 34%	D
2.0 Petrol	2,527	64.8%	Beats 84%	A
2.2 Petrol	2,093	53.3%	Beats 48%	C
2.0 Diesel	2,079	50.6%	Beats 51%	C

2003 Vauxhall Astra7 engines51.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	71,494	51.1%	Beats 37%	D
1.7 Diesel	30,304	48.5%	Beats 45%	C
1.8 Petrol	12,167	51.5%	Beats 45%	C
1.4 Petrol	9,231	49.5%	Beats 37%	D
2.0 Petrol	4,136	73.9%	Beats 98%	A
2.2 Petrol	4,110	54.2%	Beats 50%	C
2.0 Diesel	3,090	45.7%	Beats 35%	D

2002 Vauxhall Astra7 engines50.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	60,068	50.3%	Beats 36%	D
1.7 Diesel	20,346	47.2%	Beats 41%	C
1.8 Petrol	11,552	49.7%	Beats 39%	D
1.4 Petrol	7,077	49.0%	Beats 37%	D
2.2 Petrol	3,010	55.5%	Beats 56%	C
2.0 Diesel	1,945	45.0%	Beats 33%	D
2.0 Petrol	1,938	70.4%	Beats 95%	A

2001 Vauxhall Astra5 engines51.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	39,514	52.2%	Beats 41%	C
1.7 Diesel	9,435	50.2%	Beats 50%	C
1.8 Petrol	6,588	50.9%	Beats 40%	C
1.4 Petrol	5,299	51.7%	Beats 44%	C
2.2 Petrol	1,324	61.4%	Beats 71%	B

2000 Vauxhall Astra5 engines51.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	26,799	51.3%	Beats 35%	D
1.4 Petrol	3,947	50.0%	Beats 34%	D
1.8 Petrol	3,629	51.0%	Beats 38%	D
1.7 Diesel	2,928	51.7%	Beats 51%	C
2.0 Diesel	1,233	47.4%	Beats 38%	D

1999 Vauxhall Astra4 engines50.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	17,055	50.5%	Beats 27%	D
1.8 Petrol	1,822	50.1%	Beats 26%	D
1.4 Petrol	1,646	53.4%	Beats 40%	C
1.7 Diesel	1,430	52.7%	Beats 48%	C

1998 Vauxhall Astra2 engines51.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	8,684	50.8%	Beats 20%	D
1.4 Petrol	1,439	53.6%	Beats 28%	D

1997 Vauxhall Astra2 engines55.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	6,024	56.2%	Beats 26%	D
1.4 Petrol	2,544	54.7%	Beats 22%	D

1996 Vauxhall Astra2 engines56.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	2,461	57.5%	Beats 27%	D
1.4 Petrol	2,331	54.4%	Beats 18%	E

1995 Vauxhall Astra2 engines56.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	3,742	57.8%	Beats 25%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,017	51.7%	Beats 8%	E

1994 Vauxhall Astra1 engine60.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	2,167	60.5%	Beats 32%	D

1993 Vauxhall Astra1 engine62.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	1,570	62.6%	Beats 41%	C

FAQ

What is the Vauxhall Astra MOT pass rate?

64.1% of Vauxhall Astra MOT tests were passed first time, from 6.5 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 65.8%.

Is the Vauxhall Astra reliable?

On MOT results it is about average: it beats 42% of cars on UK roads, and cars from 2016 and 2017 beat just over half. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Vauxhall Astra years are best?

2016 and 2017 cars beat just over half of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and 2010–2013 cars about half.

Which Vauxhall Astra years should I avoid?

Cars from before 2010 do worst: they beat only a little over a third of cars, and 2005–2009 cars fail on coil springs on about 1 in 9 tests. 2014 and 2015 cars are also weak, beating about a third.

Which Vauxhall Astra engine is best?

The 2.0 petrol, fitted to sporty models such as the VXR, beats about eight in ten cars. Of the common engines, the 2.0 diesel, 1.0 petrol and 1.6 diesel beat about half, as does the 1.4 petrol in cars from 2016 on. The 1.6 and 1.8 petrols and the older 1.4 petrol do worst, beating a little over a third.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Astra?

Coil springs (about 1 in 14 tests), headlight aim, tyre damage, tyre tread depth and windscreen washers.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Vauxhall Astra reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ