Does the Vauxhall Adam fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Vauxhall Adam records 1.61 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.50 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (+0.11, 95% interval +0.07 to +0.15). It ranks 233 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Vauxhall Adam by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Vauxhall Adam is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 3,589 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 3,589 | 1.10 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 519 | 0.16 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 465 | 0.14 |
| An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels | 209 | 0.06 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 207 | 0.06 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 325,357 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Vauxhall Adam gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
3.9% of Vauxhall Adam MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,407 miles later (3,467 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,467 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Vauxhall Adam 2012 · Vauxhall Adam 2013 · Vauxhall Adam 2014 · Vauxhall Adam 2015 · Vauxhall Adam 2016 · Vauxhall Adam 2017 · Vauxhall Adam 2018 · Vauxhall Adam 2019 · Vauxhall Adam in the Netherlands · Vauxhall Adam by postcode area · Vauxhall Adam body, chassis and structure failures · Vauxhall Adam brakes failures · Vauxhall Adam vehicle identification failures · Vauxhall Adam lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Vauxhall Adam road wheels failures · Vauxhall Adam seat belts and airbags failures · Vauxhall Adam steering failures · Vauxhall Adam suspension failures · Vauxhall Adam tyres failures · Vauxhall Adam visibility failures