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Vauxhall Astra GTC reliability

D · Below average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 49,897 MOT tests of cars first registered 2012–2015.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
75.9%pass first time
−2.1 ptsvs typical car
Beats 34%of cars
49,897MOT tests

Verdict

The Vauxhall Astra GTC passes its MOT first time on 75.9% of tests, 2.1 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (77.9%). That puts it ahead of 34% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2013 Astra GTC does best (beats 43% of cars) and the 2015 worst (beats 23%).

Better than average on body & structure.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.5×as often as a typical car
Suspension1.6×as often as a typical car
Coil springs3.5×as often as a typical car
Brake pads2.1×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.

65%70%75%80%85%90%3456781%81%77%73%71%
Vauxhall Astra GTCTypical 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.

2012
Beats 35%
2013
Beats 43%
2014
Beats 26%
2015
Beats 23%

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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.4 Petrol2012–201522,69377.2%Beats 29%D
2.0 Diesel2012–201518,70575.3%Beats 39%D
1.7 Diesel2012–20145,11471.6%Beats 30%D
1.6 Petrol2012–20133,38577.0%Beats 48%C

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.

Exhaust: 1.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 6.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.8% 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.Lights: 6.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 6.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 6.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.3 ptsTyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.5 ptsBrakes: 6.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.1 ptsSuspension: 6.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.8% 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.Suspension−2.4 ptsExhaust: 1.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.1 ptsSuspension: 6.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.8% 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.Brakes: 6.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 6.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 6.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.3 ptsTyres: 6.4% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.5 ptsBrakes: 6.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.1 ptsSuspension: 6.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.8% 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.Suspension−2.4 ptsExhaust: 1.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.1 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Suspension: 6.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 3.8% 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
6.8% vs 8.1%
Brakes
6.4% vs 4.3%
Tyres
6.4% vs 5.8%
Suspension
6.2% vs 3.8%
Visibility
4.3% vs 4.5%
Emissions & leaks
1.1% vs 1.0%
Body & structure
0.5% vs 1.1%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.2%
Seat belts & airbags
0.1% vs 0.4%
Steering
0.1% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Coil springs 3.5× typical
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Brake pads 2.1× typical
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Tyre tread depth 1.5× typical
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Windscreen washers 1.7× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%70%80%90%100%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k89%84%78%75%72%71%68%65%
Vauxhall Astra GTCTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Brake pads4.9%2.4%2.1×
Coil springs4.5%1.3%3.5×
Tyre tread depth3.9%2.6%1.5×
Windscreen washers2.1%1.3%1.7×
Tyre damage & cracking2.0%2.6%0.8×
Headlight aim1.8%1.9%0.9×
Sidelights1.5%1.3%1.2×
Windscreen wipers1.0%2.1%0.5×
Headlight bulbs & units1.0%1.2%0.8×
Number plate lights0.9%0.9%1.1×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened45.3
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm38.4
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements32.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen20.7
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements17.8
A tyre seriously damaged10.8
A lamp missing or inoperative10.8
A brake lining or pad insecure or less than 1.5mm thick at any point10.1
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.

2015 Vauxhall Astra GTC2 engines82.5% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.4 Petrol2,22182.7%Beats 18%E
2.0 Diesel1,24082.1%Beats 32%D
2014 Vauxhall Astra GTC3 engines78.6% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.4 Petrol8,41779.5%Beats 23%D
2.0 Diesel5,39077.9%Beats 29%D
1.7 Diesel1,63076.2%Beats 32%D
2013 Vauxhall Astra GTC4 engines76.6% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel6,54975.7%Beats 46%C
1.4 Petrol5,85977.8%Beats 40%C
1.6 Petrol1,62680.4%Beats 57%C
1.7 Diesel1,59871.8%Beats 30%D
2012 Vauxhall Astra GTC4 engines71.0% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.4 Petrol6,19671.5%Beats 29%D
2.0 Diesel5,52670.6%Beats 42%C
1.7 Diesel1,88667.4%Beats 28%D
1.6 Petrol1,75973.8%Beats 42%C

FAQ

What is the Vauxhall Astra GTC MOT pass rate?

75.9% of MOT tests on the Vauxhall Astra GTC were passed first time, based on 49,897 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2012–2015. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 77.9% of the time.

Is the Vauxhall Astra GTC reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 34% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Vauxhall Astra GTC year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2013 Astra GTC does best for its age and mileage: it beats 43% of cars on UK roads. The 2015 does worst: it beats 23%.

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

The most common failure items are brake pads, coil springs, tyre tread depth. Compared with similar cars, coil springs comes up 3.5× as often.

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.