Verdict
The Vauxhall Tigra passes its MOT first time on 51.4% of tests, 9.1 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (60.5%). That puts it ahead of 16% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2004 Tigra does best (beats 31% of cars) and the 2009 worst (beats 11%).
Better than average on seat belts & airbags.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 51.0% | Beats 14% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 53.1% | Beats 25% | 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.
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
- Handbrake performance 4.5× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope. - Coil springs 1.9× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Tyre damage & cracking 1.8× typical
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Track rod ends 2.7× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres. - Exhaust system 1.6× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath. - Windscreen wipers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handbrake performance | 9.5% | 2.1% | 4.5× |
| Coil springs | 7.2% | 3.7% | 1.9× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 6.7% | 3.6% | 1.8× |
| Track rod ends | 4.6% | 1.7% | 2.7× |
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 4.1% | 2.2% | 1.9× |
| Windscreen wipers | 4.1% | 3.0% | 1.3× |
| Windscreen washers | 4.0% | 2.9% | 1.4× |
| Brake lights | 3.9% | 3.8% | 1.0× |
| Brake pipes | 3.7% | 1.8% | 2.1× |
| Headlight aim | 3.5% | 4.6% | 0.8× |
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 | 71.2 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 70.8 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 65.6 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 52.2 |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 44.6 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 42.6 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 42.0 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 40.1 |
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.
2009 Vauxhall Tigra2 engines54.6% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 54.4% | Beats 11% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 56.4% | Beats 16% | E |
2008 Vauxhall Tigra2 engines52.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 51.5% | Beats 10% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 57.0% | Beats 28% | D |
2007 Vauxhall Tigra2 engines51.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 50.3% | Beats 12% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 55.9% | Beats 29% | D |
2006 Vauxhall Tigra2 engines50.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 49.8% | Beats 17% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 52.0% | Beats 23% | D |
2005 Vauxhall Tigra2 engines48.9% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 48.4% | Beats 19% | E |
| 1.8 Petrol | 50.0% | Beats 25% | D |
2004 Vauxhall Tigra2 engines50.5% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 50.6% | Beats 30% | D |
| 1.8 Petrol | 50.3% | Beats 31% | D |
FAQ
What is the Vauxhall Tigra MOT pass rate?
51.4% of MOT tests on the Vauxhall Tigra were passed first time, based on 84,799 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2004–2009. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 60.5% of the time.
Is the Vauxhall Tigra 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 16% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Vauxhall Tigra year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2004 Tigra does best for its age and mileage: it beats 31% of cars on UK roads. The 2009 does worst: it beats 11%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Tigra?
The most common failure items are handbrake performance, coil springs, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, handbrake performance comes up 4.5× as often.