Does the Vauxhall Cavalier fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Vauxhall Cavalier records 17.97 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 29.62 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−11.65, 95% interval −12.78 to −10.51). It ranks 632 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Vauxhall Cavalier by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Vauxhall Cavalier is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 269 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 269 | 3.06 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 156 | 1.77 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 123 | 1.40 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 96 | 1.09 |
| A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier | 89 | 1.01 |
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
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 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Vauxhall Cavalier seat belts and airbags failures · Vauxhall Cavalier steering failures · Vauxhall Cavalier suspension failures · Vauxhall Cavalier tyres failures · Vauxhall Cavalier visibility failures