Vauxhall Corsa Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Vauxhall Corsa passes its MOT first time on 63.1% of tests, against 70.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats only 13% of cars on UK roads. Among small hatchbacks the Renault Clio does worse, but the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo, Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz all do better.

It starts behind and falls further back: at 3 years old a Corsa passes about 3 points less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage, and about 7–9 points less at 7–10 years.

2013 and 2014 cars are among the weakest cars on UK roads for their age, and 2017–2019 cars do no better. 2023 cars do best so far, beating a little over one in four cars, though only from their first MOTs. Of the years with more tests, 2007–2009 do best but beat fewer than one in four cars, and 2020 cars fewer than one in five.

The electric Corsa-e (2020 on) does worst of all: ball joint dust covers fail on about 1 in 16 tests, and anti-roll bar links, wipers and tyre damage also fail far more often than on a typical car.

Watch these weak spots

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

Suspension1.5×as often as a typical car

Coil springs2.4×as often as a typical car

Windscreen washers1.8×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 CorsaTypical 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 16%

Beats 13%

Beats 13%

Beats 17%

Beats 19%

Beats 20%

Beats 16%

Beats 15%

Beats 18%

Beats 18%

Beats 16%

Beats 13%

Beats 14%

Beats 23%

Beats 24%

Beats 23%

Beats 18%

Beats 19%

Beats 15%

Beats 7%

Beats 3%

Beats 9%

Beats 8%

Beats 4%

Beats 2%

Beats 4%

Beats 17%

Beats 6%

Beats 3%

Beats 28%

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 Petrol	1995–2023	3,452,853	59.6%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Petrol	1994–2019	3,276,300	69.0%	Beats 12%	E
1.2 Diesel	2003–2018	754,437	58.8%	Beats 25%	D
1.0 Petrol	1998–2018	650,301	56.6%	Beats 9%	E
1.6 Petrol	2007–2018	80,298	64.8%	Beats 21%	D
1.7 Diesel	2001–2013	36,454	52.1%	Beats 25%	D
Electric	2020–2023	35,860	77.4%	Beats 0%	E
1.3 Diesel	2005–2012	11,804	53.5%	Beats 34%	D
1.8 Petrol	2004–2006	4,298	52.2%	Beats 40%	C
1.5 Diesel	2020–2021	3,787	82.1%	Beats 24%	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: 13.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 9.1% 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

15.6% vs 11.7%

Suspension

13.6% vs 9.1%

Visibility

7.7% vs 5.0%

Brakes

7.6% vs 6.7%

Tyres

6.7% vs 6.3%

Emissions & leaks

4.7% vs 2.9%

Body & structure

4.4% vs 3.3%

Steering

3.1% vs 1.7%

Seat belts & airbags

0.8% vs 1.0%

Wheels

0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Coil springs
The Corsa's most common MOT fail, on about 1 in 16 tests (2.4 times the typical rate). Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil and listen for clunks over bumps.
Lights
Brake lights, headlight bulbs and number plate lights each fail about 1.7 times as often as on a typical car. Walk around with all the lights on while someone presses the brake.
Washers and wipers
Washers fail about 1.8 times and wipers about 1.4 times as often as on a typical car, and wipers about 3 times on cars from 2020 on. Test both before the MOT.
Track rod ends
Twice the typical rate overall and nearly 7 times on 2015–2019 cars. Feel for play or knocking in the steering and look for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
Shock absorbers
Fail about 2.4 times as often as on a typical car, and nearly 3 times on 2006–2014 cars. Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle.
Engine warning light
About twice the typical rate, and nearly 3 times on 2013–2014 cars. It should go out once the engine starts; if it stays on, get the fault codes read.
Corsa-e suspension
On the electric Corsa-e, look behind the front wheels for split ball joint dust covers and listen for knocks from the anti-roll bar links.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Vauxhall CorsaTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Coil springs	6.2%	2.6%	2.4×
Headlight aim	4.1%	3.1%	1.3×
Brake lights	3.8%	2.3%	1.7×
Windscreen washers	3.8%	2.1%	1.8×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.6%	2.1%	1.7×
Windscreen wipers	3.4%	2.4%	1.4×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.3%	3.5%	0.9×
Sidelights	2.8%	2.7%	1.0×
Tyre tread depth	2.7%	2.5%	1.1×
Track rod ends	2.6%	1.2%	2.1×

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	62.0
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	41.2
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	37.9
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	36.5
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	33.0
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED	28.4
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	26.8
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	26.4

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 Corsa2 engines87.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	15,927	88.4%	Beats 36%	D
Electric	1,647	83.1%	Beats 0%	E

2022 Vauxhall Corsa2 engines84.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	57,600	85.0%	Beats 5%	E
Electric	7,985	77.4%	Beats 0%	E

2021 Vauxhall Corsa3 engines83.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	99,026	84.8%	Beats 12%	E
Electric	15,600	77.2%	Beats 0%	E
1.5 Diesel	1,244	79.1%	Beats 9%	E

2020 Vauxhall Corsa3 engines84.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	161,109	85.1%	Beats 23%	D
Electric	10,628	76.8%	Beats 0%	E
1.5 Diesel	2,543	83.6%	Beats 37%	D

2019 Vauxhall Corsa2 engines80.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	250,784	80.4%	Beats 3%	E
1.2 Petrol	6,666	86.6%	Beats 51%	C

2018 Vauxhall Corsa4 engines77.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	294,357	77.7%	Beats 2%	E
1.2 Diesel	13,214	75.0%	Beats 12%	E
1.6 Petrol	1,214	77.1%	Beats 3%	E
1.0 Petrol	1,051	81.3%	Beats 29%	D

2017 Vauxhall Corsa4 engines76.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	333,955	76.3%	Beats 4%	E
1.2 Diesel	15,845	74.6%	Beats 20%	D
1.6 Petrol	3,208	78.0%	Beats 8%	E
1.0 Petrol	3,034	77.6%	Beats 9%	E

2016 Vauxhall Corsa5 engines75.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	507,259	75.0%	Beats 7%	E
1.2 Diesel	38,246	74.8%	Beats 30%	D
1.2 Petrol	22,123	73.1%	Beats 4%	E
1.0 Petrol	19,137	76.2%	Beats 17%	E
1.6 Petrol	9,482	74.8%	Beats 7%	E

2015 Vauxhall Corsa5 engines72.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	438,378	73.8%	Beats 11%	E
1.2 Petrol	245,994	70.9%	Beats 5%	E
1.2 Diesel	48,354	70.7%	Beats 22%	D
1.0 Petrol	39,449	75.0%	Beats 18%	E
1.6 Petrol	7,561	71.9%	Beats 5%	E

2014 Vauxhall Corsa5 engines64.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol report →	333,635	63.6%	Beats 2%	E
1.4 Petrol	190,246	66.6%	Beats 5%	E
1.0 Petrol	69,604	64.0%	Beats 1%	E
1.2 Diesel	67,561	63.2%	Beats 8%	E
1.6 Petrol	8,569	65.6%	Beats 4%	E

2013 Vauxhall Corsa6 engines63.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	338,223	62.0%	Beats 5%	E
1.4 Petrol	173,840	65.6%	Beats 11%	E
1.2 Diesel	73,635	61.8%	Beats 16%	E
1.0 Petrol	67,375	62.0%	Beats 4%	E
1.6 Petrol	8,483	66.1%	Beats 16%	E
1.7 Diesel	3,703	62.2%	Beats 15%	E

2012 Vauxhall Corsa7 engines62.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	334,348	61.3%	Beats 11%	E
1.4 Petrol	187,668	65.0%	Beats 20%	D
1.2 Diesel	75,847	60.7%	Beats 25%	D
1.0 Petrol	67,005	60.5%	Beats 7%	E
1.6 Petrol	8,170	65.6%	Beats 30%	D
1.7 Diesel	4,980	62.9%	Beats 31%	D
1.3 Diesel	1,321	60.9%	Beats 20%	D

2011 Vauxhall Corsa7 engines60.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	280,743	59.8%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Petrol	151,797	63.2%	Beats 26%	D
1.2 Diesel	73,557	59.1%	Beats 31%	D
1.0 Petrol	49,585	57.9%	Beats 9%	E
1.6 Petrol	6,180	62.8%	Beats 30%	D
1.7 Diesel	4,460	59.8%	Beats 30%	D
1.3 Diesel	1,257	59.9%	Beats 38%	D

2010 Vauxhall Corsa6 engines56.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	260,722	55.7%	Beats 14%	E
1.4 Petrol	145,899	58.8%	Beats 22%	D
1.2 Diesel	69,517	55.8%	Beats 29%	D
1.0 Petrol	44,294	57.1%	Beats 13%	E
1.6 Petrol	5,320	57.5%	Beats 24%	D
1.7 Diesel	1,960	54.0%	Beats 22%	D

2009 Vauxhall Corsa7 engines55.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	220,993	54.5%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	155,441	57.3%	Beats 28%	D
1.2 Diesel	78,761	54.2%	Beats 32%	D
1.0 Petrol	47,678	53.4%	Beats 11%	E
1.6 Petrol	8,430	56.6%	Beats 33%	D
1.3 Diesel	1,789	56.9%	Beats 45%	C
1.7 Diesel	1,445	50.5%	Beats 19%	E

2008 Vauxhall Corsa7 engines53.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	236,279	52.3%	Beats 20%	E
1.4 Petrol	140,750	55.7%	Beats 28%	D
1.2 Diesel	94,651	52.1%	Beats 31%	D
1.0 Petrol	43,438	52.2%	Beats 16%	E
1.6 Petrol	7,907	56.1%	Beats 39%	D
1.7 Diesel	3,220	50.0%	Beats 26%	D
1.3 Diesel	2,235	54.0%	Beats 38%	D

2007 Vauxhall Corsa7 engines51.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	205,504	50.1%	Beats 18%	E
1.4 Petrol	139,902	54.0%	Beats 27%	D
1.2 Diesel	55,046	50.9%	Beats 33%	D
1.0 Petrol	25,176	48.9%	Beats 14%	E
1.6 Petrol	5,774	57.4%	Beats 49%	C
1.7 Diesel	3,490	49.1%	Beats 25%	D
1.3 Diesel	2,122	51.3%	Beats 36%	D

2006 Vauxhall Corsa6 engines47.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	157,459	46.4%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Petrol	48,576	51.0%	Beats 18%	E
1.0 Petrol	26,878	47.6%	Beats 11%	E
1.2 Diesel	20,608	45.9%	Beats 20%	D
1.3 Diesel	2,048	46.8%	Beats 26%	D
1.8 Petrol	1,355	51.2%	Beats 32%	D

2005 Vauxhall Corsa6 engines45.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	124,577	45.0%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Petrol	39,346	48.4%	Beats 15%	E
1.0 Petrol	26,535	45.1%	Beats 10%	E
1.2 Diesel	14,197	44.4%	Beats 20%	E
1.8 Petrol	1,709	52.1%	Beats 42%	C
1.3 Diesel	1,032	46.6%	Beats 28%	D

2004 Vauxhall Corsa5 engines45.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	103,364	45.1%	Beats 15%	E
1.0 Petrol	29,525	44.9%	Beats 13%	E
1.4 Petrol	24,160	48.0%	Beats 17%	E
1.2 Diesel	13,444	43.2%	Beats 20%	D
1.8 Petrol	1,234	53.5%	Beats 47%	C

2003 Vauxhall Corsa5 engines46.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	92,229	45.7%	Beats 18%	E
1.0 Petrol	36,166	45.9%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Petrol	13,287	48.8%	Beats 18%	E
1.7 Diesel	6,455	43.7%	Beats 26%	D
1.2 Diesel	1,954	45.1%	Beats 28%	D

2002 Vauxhall Corsa4 engines45.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	70,900	45.6%	Beats 17%	E
1.0 Petrol	22,777	45.2%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Petrol	8,882	49.9%	Beats 22%	D
1.7 Diesel	4,942	43.3%	Beats 25%	D

2001 Vauxhall Corsa4 engines45.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	45,461	45.7%	Beats 15%	E
1.0 Petrol	16,742	44.0%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Petrol	7,515	49.2%	Beats 18%	E
1.7 Diesel	1,799	44.9%	Beats 27%	D

2000 Vauxhall Corsa3 engines50.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	17,992	51.0%	Beats 17%	E
1.0 Petrol	8,218	48.8%	Beats 12%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,547	50.3%	Beats 15%	E

1999 Vauxhall Corsa3 engines54.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	12,756	54.9%	Beats 24%	D
1.0 Petrol	4,509	50.6%	Beats 11%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,591	58.5%	Beats 38%	D

1998 Vauxhall Corsa3 engines55.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	10,205	55.3%	Beats 20%	D
1.2 Petrol	2,268	54.6%	Beats 19%	E
1.0 Petrol	2,125	54.3%	Beats 16%	E

1997 Vauxhall Corsa2 engines54.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	5,627	54.8%	Beats 16%	E
1.2 Petrol	3,859	55.0%	Beats 17%	E

1996 Vauxhall Corsa2 engines54.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	3,030	54.6%	Beats 12%	E
1.2 Petrol	1,834	54.2%	Beats 13%	E

1995 Vauxhall Corsa2 engines56.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	1,262	56.1%	Beats 13%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,161	57.3%	Beats 14%	E

1994 Vauxhall Corsa1 engine59.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	1,097	59.1%	Beats 16%	E

FAQ

What is the Vauxhall Corsa MOT pass rate?

63.1% of Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests were passed first time, from 8.3 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 70.8%.

Is the Vauxhall Corsa reliable?

On MOT results it is below average: it beats only 13% of cars on UK roads, and no year beats as many as half. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Vauxhall Corsa years are best?

So far 2023 cars, which beat a little over one in four cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, though only from their first MOTs. Of the years with more tests, cars from 2007 to 2009 do best, but they still beat fewer than one in four.

Which Vauxhall Corsa years should I avoid?

2013 and 2014 cars, which fail most often on coil springs, brake lights, track rod ends and the engine warning light; 2017 to 2019 cars, which do no better; and the electric Corsa-e.

Which Vauxhall Corsa engine is best?

No Corsa engine beats a typical car of the same age and mileage. Of the most common engines, the 1.3 CDTi diesel (listed as 1.2 Diesel, from its 1,248 cc) does best, beating about one in four cars; the 1.0 petrol does worst.

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

Coil springs (about 1 in 16 tests), headlight aim, brake lights 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 Corsa 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