Vauxhall Combo Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Vauxhall Combo passes its MOT first time on 58.3% of tests, 8.3 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (66.6%). That puts it ahead of 14% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2010 Combo does best (beats 42% of cars) and the 2021 worst (beats 0%).

Of its engines, the 1.7 Diesel does best (beats 24%) and the 1.5 Diesel worst (beats 1%).

Better than average on seat belts & airbags.

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.3×as often as a typical car

Suspension1.6×as often as a typical car

Coil springs2.5×as often as a typical car

Windscreen wipers1.8×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 ComboTypical 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 39%

Beats 29%

Beats 26%

Beats 26%

Beats 26%

Beats 22%

Beats 23%

Beats 29%

Beats 30%

Beats 42%

Beats 35%

Beats 8%

Beats 8%

Beats 6%

Beats 4%

Beats 2%

Beats 1%

Beats 1%

Beats 1%

Beats 0%

Beats 0%

Beats 0%

Beats 1%

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
1.2 Diesel	2004–2018	487,399	56.5%	Beats 18%	E
1.7 Diesel	2001–2012	151,646	46.2%	Beats 24%	D
1.5 Diesel	2018–2023	123,844	71.9%	Beats 1%	E
1.6 Diesel	2012–2020	88,912	64.8%	Beats 3%	E
1.2 Petrol	2019–2021	17,832	81.2%	Beats 2%	E
1.4 Petrol	2018–2018	1,158	70.2%	Beats 0%	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.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Suspension: 17.7% of tests fail on suspension, against 11.2% 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

19.6% vs 14.7%

Suspension

17.7% vs 11.2%

Brakes

11.3% vs 8.7%

Tyres

9.7% vs 7.4%

Visibility

9.6% vs 5.5%

Body & structure

6.1% vs 4.3%

Emissions & leaks

5.3% vs 4.0%

Steering

4.9% vs 2.4%

Seat belts & airbags

1.1% vs 1.4%

Wheels

0.5% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Coil springs 2.5× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
Windscreen wipers 1.8× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Headlight aim 1.5× typical
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Headlight bulbs & units 1.6× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Tyre damage & cracking 1.4× typical
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Track rod ends 1.8× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Vauxhall ComboTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Coil springs	6.7%	2.7%	2.5×
Headlight aim	5.9%	4.0%	1.5×
Tyre damage & cracking	5.4%	3.9%	1.4×
Windscreen wipers	4.4%	2.5%	1.8×
Windscreen washers	4.4%	2.5%	1.8×
Headlight bulbs & units	4.3%	2.7%	1.6×
Tyre tread depth	4.1%	3.2%	1.3×
Sidelights	3.9%	3.7%	1.1×
Brake lights	3.4%	2.7%	1.3×
Track rod ends	2.9%	1.6%	1.8×

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	66.6
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	61.1
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	59.4
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	44.1
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	42.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	40.9
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED	34.9
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	30.4

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 Combo1 engine74.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	2,644	74.6%	Beats 1%	E

2022 Vauxhall Combo1 engine72.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	9,966	72.0%	Beats 0%	E

2021 Vauxhall Combo2 engines72.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	30,986	71.7%	Beats 0%	E
1.2 Petrol	3,535	81.7%	Beats 1%	E

2020 Vauxhall Combo3 engines71.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	45,163	70.5%	Beats 0%	E
1.2 Petrol	6,068	81.9%	Beats 2%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,299	69.4%	Beats 0%	E

2019 Vauxhall Combo3 engines71.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	34,787	68.6%	Beats 1%	E
1.5 Diesel	33,154	73.3%	Beats 2%	E
1.2 Petrol	8,229	80.3%	Beats 3%	E

2018 Vauxhall Combo4 engines68.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	9,139	67.3%	Beats 0%	E
1.6 Diesel	5,110	64.8%	Beats 0%	E
1.5 Diesel	1,931	80.7%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,158	70.2%	Beats 0%	E

2017 Vauxhall Combo2 engines64.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	18,512	64.6%	Beats 1%	E
1.6 Diesel	6,615	63.0%	Beats 1%	E

2016 Vauxhall Combo2 engines63.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	31,706	62.8%	Beats 1%	E
1.6 Diesel	9,415	65.4%	Beats 4%	E

2015 Vauxhall Combo2 engines63.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	38,353	62.6%	Beats 4%	E
1.6 Diesel	10,187	66.0%	Beats 11%	E

2014 Vauxhall Combo2 engines60.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	35,197	60.9%	Beats 6%	E
1.6 Diesel	11,155	59.8%	Beats 6%	E

2013 Vauxhall Combo2 engines57.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	24,689	57.8%	Beats 9%	E
1.6 Diesel	7,263	57.1%	Beats 7%	E

2012 Vauxhall Combo3 engines53.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	23,758	53.8%	Beats 8%	E
1.6 Diesel	3,081	53.6%	Beats 9%	E
1.7 Diesel	2,228	48.0%	Beats 4%	E

2011 Vauxhall Combo2 engines61.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	61,573	62.5%	Beats 39%	D
1.7 Diesel	9,420	54.2%	Beats 17%	E

2010 Vauxhall Combo2 engines60.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	54,940	62.4%	Beats 48%	C
1.7 Diesel	11,361	49.9%	Beats 16%	E

2009 Vauxhall Combo2 engines53.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	33,375	54.0%	Beats 33%	D
1.7 Diesel	8,905	49.4%	Beats 20%	D

2008 Vauxhall Combo2 engines50.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	47,468	51.2%	Beats 31%	D
1.7 Diesel	15,732	47.9%	Beats 23%	D

2007 Vauxhall Combo2 engines47.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	41,710	46.9%	Beats 22%	D
1.7 Diesel	13,924	47.5%	Beats 26%	D

2006 Vauxhall Combo2 engines45.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	37,602	45.3%	Beats 22%	D
1.7 Diesel	9,957	45.3%	Beats 24%	D

2005 Vauxhall Combo2 engines45.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Diesel	26,991	45.0%	Beats 25%	D
1.7 Diesel	10,731	46.0%	Beats 31%	D

2004 Vauxhall Combo2 engines43.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	30,905	43.3%	Beats 26%	D
1.2 Diesel	2,386	44.8%	Beats 26%	D

2003 Vauxhall Combo1 engine43.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	26,468	43.2%	Beats 26%	D

2002 Vauxhall Combo1 engine43.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	10,281	43.9%	Beats 29%	D

2001 Vauxhall Combo1 engine49.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	1,734	49.5%	Beats 39%	D

FAQ

What is the Vauxhall Combo MOT pass rate?

58.3% of MOT tests on the Vauxhall Combo were passed first time, based on 870,791 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2001–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 66.6% of the time.

Is the Vauxhall Combo 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 14% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Vauxhall Combo year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2010 Combo does best for its age and mileage: it beats 42% of cars on UK roads. The 2021 does worst: it beats 0%.

Which Vauxhall Combo engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.7 Diesel does best: it beats 24% of cars on UK roads. The 1.5 Diesel does worst: it beats 1%.

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

The most common failure items are coil springs, headlight aim, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, coil springs comes up 2.5× 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.

Vauxhall Combo 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