Vauxhall Astra MOT pass rate and common problems
Vauxhall Astras fail their MOT more often than other cars of the same age.
- Failed at the first attempt
- 34.3%failed at the first attempt in 2024
Average for cars of the same age: 32.8%
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 636,078 tests
Check a Vauxhall Astra by registration
Vauxhall Astra common problems: what should I check before buying?
The faults recorded most often at Vauxhall Astra MOTs in 2019–2024, per 100 tests.
- Broken or weakened suspension spring8.32Major
What to check: Look behind each wheel at the coil springs for a snapped end, and check the car sits level from side to side.
- Worn suspension bush or joint5.49Major
What to check: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, feel for the car wandering under braking, and ask which part was replaced.
- Tyre tread below the legal limit4.52Dangerous
What to check: Check the tread across every tyre with a gauge; wear on one edge points to a tracking fault.
- Headlight aimed wrongly3.70Major
What to check: Shine the dipped beams at a wall after dark: both should sit at the same height.
- Brake pads or shoes dangerously thin3.32Dangerous
What to check: Look through the wheels at the pads and discs, listen for grinding, and ask when they were last replaced.
One test can record several defects, so this is not the share of Vauxhall Astras.
Each tip applies only if the car you are looking at has that fault in its own MOT history.
Check a Vauxhall Astra by registration
Which Vauxhall Astra years should I avoid?
2014 is the Vauxhall Astra year that fails its MOT most for its age; 2020 fails least.
Fails more for its age: 2009, 2014.
Fails less for its age: 2016, 2017, 2020.
Years without published figures
- 2024, 2025, 2026
These registration years do not need an MOT yet. Ask the seller for the service history.
- 2021, 2022, 2023
Our figures end in 2024, before these cars had enough MOTs to compare.
Year means the year the car was first registered, as DVSA records it. It may differ from the year it was built.
How does the Vauxhall Astra compare with similar cars?
6 of 8 similar models fail less often for their age than the Vauxhall Astra.
This is a different comparison from the one at the top. There, the Vauxhall Astra is measured against all cars of the same age. Here, it sits among similar models. Both can be true.
| Model | MOT Risk Index |
|---|---|
| Vauxhall Astra | 104.5 |
| Ford Focus | 102.7 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 85.8 |
| Audi A3 | 84.8 |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 94.2 |
| Honda Civic | 98.1 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 118.7 |
| Nissan Micra | 106 |
| Ford Ka | 103.2 |
How do Vauxhall Astras hold up as they get older?
First-time MOT failures on Vauxhall Astras go from 11.4% at age 3 to 47.6% at age 19.
| Age at MOT (years) | Vauxhall Astra failed (%) | All cars failed (%) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.4 | 12.4 | 1,702 |
| 16 | 45.4 | 43.1 | 36,724 |
| 17 | 46.6 | 43.1 | 36,124 |
| 18 | 48.2 | 43.9 | 22,319 |
| 19 | 47.6 | 43.5 | 14,866 |
Do advisories on Vauxhall Astras turn into fails at the next MOT?
30.3% of lights and electrical advisories on Vauxhall Astras turned into lights and electrical fails at the next MOT.
The next MOT came about 12 months later.
Based on 78,687 advisories, each followed to the car's next MOT, 2019–2024. This counts advisories, not cars.
The most common advisories on Vauxhall Astras are for brakes: 45.39 per 100 tests.
| Advisory | Failed next time (%) | Advisories followed |
|---|---|---|
| lamps, reflectors and electrics | 30.3 | 78,687 |
| suspension | 24.4 | 487,101 |
| brakes | 15.4 | 855,803 |
| body, chassis and structure | 12.5 | 201,165 |
| tyres | 10.8 | 923,524 |
What else should I know about a used Vauxhall Astra?
- MOT pass rate, 2024
- 34.3% failed at the first attempt; after repairs at the test centre, 72.4% passed in the end.
- MOT tests counted
- 636,078 first tests in 2024; retests are left out
- Years first registered
- 1998 to 2020
- Fuel
- Petrol 69.9%, diesel 30.1%
- ULEZ
- 72.2% likely to meet it, judged from fuel and registration date
- Typical mileage at 8 years old
- 62,985 miles
- Recalls
- 37 campaigns listed by DVSA
Vauxhall Astra common problems: what actually fails the MOT?
Vauxhall Astra MOTs fail most often on ‘lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment’: 22 per 100 tests, against 20.4 for UK cars of the same age (2019–2024, n = 4,488,783).
| Measure | Value (per 100) | Comparison (per 100) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 22 | 20.4 | 985,536 |
| Suspension | 20.4 | 17.8 | 917,158 |
| Brakes | 16.3 | 13.1 | 730,516 |
| Tyres | 10.6 | 9.3 | 475,500 |
| Visibility | 8.9 | 8.5 | 399,166 |
What is likely to fail next on a used Vauxhall Astra?
For Vauxhall Astras aged 3 to 5 whose last MOT was a pass, the item most likely to fail at the next MOT is tyres: 4.8% failed on it (2019–2024, n = 337,603).
| Measure | Value (% next fail) |
|---|---|
| Tyres, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 4.8 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 3.4 |
| Brakes, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 3.1 |
| Visibility, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 2.7 |
| Suspension, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 2.7 |
How often do Vauxhall Astras get a dangerous MOT defect?
The Vauxhall Astra gets a dangerous defect more often than the UK average: 14.0 per 100 first tests against 11.2 across the UK. A dangerous defect means the vehicle should not be driven away until it is fixed. In the same tests, 66.1 major and 13.3 minor defects were recorded per 100 tests (one test can record several).
Severity was not recorded for some 2018–2021 tests.
| Measure | Value (per 100) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects | 14.0 | 4,488,783 |
Comparison: 11.2 per 100.
How much do Vauxhall Astra MOT repairs cost?
Expected repair cost per Vauxhall Astra MOT: about £114 (up to about £217 if more expensive parts are needed), from the chance of failing each item and its most common UK repair price (catalogue estimate, n = 636,078).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Expected repair bill | 114.3 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Estimated range lower | 114.3 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Estimated range upper | 217.2 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Suspension: Suspension coil spring (single corner) | 36.7 GBP expected contribution | 180 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Battery replacement (standard 12V lead-acid) | 30.8 GBP expected contribution | 140 |
What mileage is normal for a used Vauxhall Astra?
At age 8, the median Vauxhall Astra had covered 62,985 miles by its MOT; the middle half ranged from 47,175 to 81,310 miles (2024, n = 56,076).
| Measure | Value (miles) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 median | 27208 | 1,702 |
| Age 3 P25 | 16496 | 1,702 |
| Age 3 P75 | 39289 | 1,702 |
| Age 4 median | 24316 | 2,437 |
| Age 4 P25 | 16358 | 2,437 |
Do high-mileage Vauxhall Astras fail their MOT more often?
At ages 10–14, 19.9% of Vauxhall Astras with under 40,000 miles failed first time, against 42.2% of those with over 140,000 miles (2024, n = 34,425). Inside this age group, higher mileage goes with more failures.
| Measure | Value (% failed first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3–5, <40k miles | 11.9 | 14,969 |
| Age 3–5, 40-70k miles | 19.3 | 8,227 |
| Age 3–5, 70-100k miles | 24.4 | 1,455 |
| Age 3–5, 100-140k miles (rough estimate: 394 tests, 95% interval 24.7–33.6%) | 28.9 | 394 |
| Age 3–5, 140k+ miles (rough estimate: 72 tests, 95% interval 18.8–39%) | 27.8 | 72 |
How many miles do Vauxhall Astras last?
29.9% of Vauxhall Astras tested had reached 100,000 miles, and 5.5% had reached 150,000 (2024, n = 1,333,764).
| Measure | Value (% of tested cars) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 miles | 29.9 | 1,333,764 |
| 150,000 miles | 5.5 | 245,222 |
| 200,000 miles | 0.8 | 34,500 |
Does mileage, as well as age, change the Vauxhall Astra failure index?
Matched on annual mileage as well as age, the Vauxhall Astra index is 106.1, against 108.4 on age alone (2019–2024, n = 636,078).
| Measure | Value (index) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age and mileage adjusted index | 106.1 | 636,078 |
Comparison: 108.4 index.
Which Vauxhall Astra fuel type fails its MOT less?
There is no real difference between petrol and diesel Vauxhall Astras before allowing for age: 34.0% against 34.8% fail first time.
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 34.8 | 191,225 |
| Petrol | 34.0 | 444,737 |
Comparison: other fuels.
Which Vauxhall Astra engine fails its MOT least?
Among engines with enough tests, the best Vauxhall Astra engine is the petrol 1.8–2.0 litre at index 73.1, and the worst the diesel 1.0–1.2 litre at 107.0, where 100 = the model's own average (2024, n = 636,078).
| Measure | Value (index vs model norm) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol 1.8–2.0 litre | 73.1 | 63,188 |
| Petrol 1.0–1.2 litre | 85.3 | 8,305 |
| Petrol under 1.0 litre | 88.4 | 94,721 |
| Petrol over 2.0 litre | 94.6 | 7,701 |
| Petrol 1.2–1.5 litre | 97 | 1,187,135 |
Comparison: 100 = model average.
Where in Britain does the Vauxhall Astra fail its MOT most?
Vauxhall Astra fails first-time MOTs most in Kirkcaldy (KY): 45.6% against 35.3% across Britain for this model, both 2019–2024 (2019–2024, n = 33,633).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkcaldy (KY) | 45.6 | 33,633 |
| Dundee (DD) | 44.2 | 20,981 |
| Plymouth (PL) | 43.7 | 42,512 |
| Bromley (BR) | 26.4 | 14,200 |
| Enfield (EN) | 28.2 | 23,669 |
Across Britain for this model: 35.3% failed first time, also in 2019–2024.
Does the Vauxhall Astra have rust problems?
Allowing for age, Vauxhall Astra MOTs record corrosion failures at 1.5 times the national rate: 1.14% of tests against 0.77% (2024 + geographic layers, n = 631,060).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value (ratio estimate) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Salt belt susceptibility | 1.5 | 631,060 |
Comparison: 1 ratio estimate.
What do six years of MOTs show about owning a used Vauxhall Astra?
Of failed Vauxhall Astra MOTs, 46.0% were retested the same day and a further 51.4% within 10 days; the median failed car passed its retest after 1 day (2019–2024, n = 1,166,542).
| Measure | Value | Comparison | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same-day retest | 46.0 % | failed initial tests | 1,166,542 |
| Retest within 10 days | 51.4 % | failed initial tests | 1,166,542 |
| Clean MOT streak | 28.0 % | observed chains | 808,531 |
| Repeat advisory | 38.3 % | observed chains | 808,531 |
| Decreasing odometer | 1.0 % mileage anomaly | observed chains | 886,369 |
Is low mileage good for a used Vauxhall Astra?
Vauxhall Astras aged 5 to 14 doing under 5,000 miles a year failed first time in 23.4% of tests, against 38.0% for those doing 8,000 to 12,000 miles (2019–2024, n = 434,582).
| Measure | Value | Comparison | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-use first-time failure | 23.4 % | 38.0 | 434,582 |
| Low-use gap | -14.6 percentage points | 8–12k miles | 434,582 |
How many years do Vauxhall Astras last?
Vauxhall Astras tend to last: at ten years old the typical one has about 7.6 more years of MOTs ahead, more than the median model. This is a forecast from the survival curve and may not come true.
Computed, not measured.
Forecast, not a prediction for a particular car.
| Measure | Value (years forecast) |
|---|---|
| Age 5 | 12.6 |
| Age 8 | 9.6 |
| Age 10 | 7.6 |
| Age 12 | 5.6 |
| Age 15 (at least; observed only until age 19) | 2.6 |
How many Vauxhall Astras are still on the road as they age?
In 2024, for every 100 Vauxhall Astras tested at ages 4 to 6, about 27 were tested at age 19 (2024, n = 66,364).
| Measure | Value (% of age 4–6 baseline) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 | 72.6 | 176,760 |
| Age 4 | 85.2 | 207,460 |
| Age 5 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 253,158 |
| Age 6 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 269,757 |
| Age 7 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 300,715 |
If a used Vauxhall Astra fails its MOT, will it fail the next one?
Vauxhall Astras that fail once are much more likely to fail again: 39.8% failed the next MOT after a fail, against 29.3% after a pass (test chains 2019–2024). The failure most likely to come back is speedometer and speed limiter: 40.3% of those fails recurred at the next MOT.
| Measure | Value (%) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat after fail | 39.8 | 287,745 |
Comparison: 29.3 %.
Which Vauxhall Astra faults tend to come together?
On Vauxhall Astras, seat belts and supplementary restraint systems and speedometer and speed limiter failures turn up together 11.8 times as often as chance would predict (2024, n = 24).
| Measure | Value (lift) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems + Speedometer and speed limiter (rough estimate: 24 tests, 95% interval 7.5–17.5) | 11.8 | 24 |
| Body, chassis, structure + Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.5 | 67,841 |
| Road Wheels + Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.4 | 510 |
| Identification of the vehicle + Road Wheels (rough estimate: 330 tests, 95% interval 5.1–6.3) | 5.7 | 330 |
| Identification of the vehicle + Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 5.5 | 675 |
Comparison: expected joint rate.
Vauxhall Astra safety recalls: how do I check this car?
DVSA lists 37 safety recall campaigns matched to the Vauxhall Astra; check whether yours has been fixed, using its registration number.
Computed, not measured.
Recall effects are computed comparisons, not causal findings; campaigns are not linked to individual VINs.
| Measure | Value | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns matched | 37 campaigns | DVSA register |
| Recall effect: R/2023/031 | -1.8 percentage points computed | comparison fleet |
| Recall effect: R/2019/059 | -0.2 percentage points computed | comparison fleet |
| Recall effect: R/2022/081 | 0.2 percentage points computed | comparison fleet |
| Recall effect: R/2019/364 | 0.3 percentage points computed | comparison fleet |
How many Vauxhall Astras fail the MOT at each age?
Of every 100 Vauxhall Astras tested at age 5, about 16 failed the MOT first time; at age 10, about 33. These are one-year rates for different cars tested in the same year, not a fleet followed over time; the steepest one-year step in this cross-section is between cars aged 8 and 9, 6.89 percentage points (2024).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 (rough estimate: 1,702 tests, 95% interval 10.0–13.0%) | 11.4 | 1,702 |
| Age 4 | 11.9 | 2,437 |
| Age 5 | 16.1 | 20,984 |
| Age 6 | 19.1 | 30,408 |
| Age 7 | 20.4 | 46,243 |
Do Vauxhall Astras fail their MOT more in some months?
Vauxhall Astras fail first time most in January (37.1%, against 31.1% for all cars that month) and least in June (33.4%) (2024, n = 636,078).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Comparison (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37.1 | 31.1 | 426,901 |
| February | 36.3 | 30.0 | 379,728 |
| March | 34.5 | 28.3 | 452,261 |
| April | 36.5 | 29.8 | 243,585 |
| May | 34.9 | 28.8 | 275,695 |
How far is real-world MPG from the lab figure for Vauxhall cars?
Real-world fuel use of 2021 diesel cars from Opel Automobile is 18.4% above the official WLTP figure: 5.83 against 4.93 litres per 100 km (2021+ cohorts, n = 6,721 vehicles).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value (% real-world vs official) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Opel Automobile 2021 diesel | 18.4 | 6,721 |
| Opel Automobile 2021 petrol | 16.6 | 5,889 |
| Opel Automobile 2021 petrol/electric | 305.1 | 3,316 |
| Opel Automobile 2022 diesel | 16.9 | 4,096 |
| Opel Automobile 2022 petrol | 15.9 | 5,191 |
Plug-in hybrids: the lab figure assumes the battery is charged often; on the road many are driven mostly on petrol, so the gap is several times larger.
Comparison: 0% gap.
European Commission OBFCM; covers 19 of 761 models.
What DVSA defect categories mean
- Dangerous: the car should not be driven until it is repaired.
- Major: the car fails the MOT.
- Minor: recorded, but the car still passes.
- Advisory: noted by the tester to keep an eye on; the car still passes.
How are these figures calculated?
We count first MOT tests only; retests after repairs are left out. Each model is compared with cars of the same age.
Which Vauxhall Astra figures are missing, and why?
We have not worked this out for the Vauxhall Astra yet.
- What have dealers been told about the Vauxhall Astra? (US market)
- What do owners complain about? (US market)
Cite this page or report an error
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 24 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/vauxhall-astra/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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More on the Vauxhall Astra
- Overview:
- Model overview · All Vauxhall models
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- What fails:
- body · brakes · plates · lights · emissions · wheels · seat belts · steering · suspension · tyres · visibility
- Abroad:
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- By area:
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