Does the Vauxhall Cavalier fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Vauxhall Cavalier records 11.11 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.60 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+3.51, 95% interval +2.82 to +4.21). It ranks 58 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 Cavalier by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Vauxhall Cavalier is “Emissions levels exceed default limits”, recorded 377 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 377 | 4.29 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 177 | 2.01 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 141 | 1.60 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 129 | 1.47 |
| An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels | 38 | 0.43 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,791 (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 Cavalier gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
10.8% of Vauxhall Cavalier 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 1,543 miles later (897 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 897 (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 Cavalier by postcode area · Vauxhall Cavalier body, chassis and structure failures · Vauxhall Cavalier brakes failures · Vauxhall Cavalier vehicle identification failures · Vauxhall Cavalier lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Vauxhall Cavalier seat belts and airbags failures · Vauxhall Cavalier steering failures · Vauxhall Cavalier suspension failures · Vauxhall Cavalier tyres failures · Vauxhall Cavalier visibility failures