MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Vauxhall Corsa — MOT statistics 2024

All Vauxhall Corsa variants tested in Great Britain in 2024 — 1,191,943 MOT tests, every generation and engine together.

MOT risk index
123.5
100 = normal for its age

This car fails its MOT about 24% more often than expected for its age.

Rank 23 of 25 families published so far · margin of error ±1 points

What this means for buyers

Checklist when viewing a used Corsa:
  1. Ask the seller about: Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or det
  2. Ask the seller about: A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  3. Try every light and switch — lamps are a top failure
  4. Ask the seller about: Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no

Top specific failures

Exact defect wording from test records, per 100 tests.

What failedper 100
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated9.95
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened7.68
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources7.07
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc5.54
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn4.6
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements4.12
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements4.01
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen3.7
A tyre seriously damaged3.49
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage3.43

Failures by component area

Lamps & electrical 32.6 Suspension 24.9 Steering 17.6 Brakes 15.2 Visibility 11.8 Tyres 11

Early warnings (advisories)

Advisories are wear the tester noted but didn't fail — what will need money soon.

Tyres 67.6 Suspension 57.9 Brakes 41.7 Emissions & leaks 17.3 Body & structure 11.1 Non-component advisories 9.6

How it ages

3579111315171955%car age, years

Takeaway: a 10-year-old Corsa has roughly a 41% chance of failing its MOT; from about age 5 it does worse than the average car.

Data table
AgeVauxhall CorsaAll cars
518.3%13.5%
621.1%15.6%
725.3%18.2%
828.5%21.3%
932.4%24.4%
1040.6%27.7%
1138.9%30.6%
1239.5%33.4%
1341.0%36.0%
1443.9%38.6%
1545.5%39.9%
1646.1%41.5%
1746.9%41.5%
1850.6%42.4%
1951.4%42.2%
2043.6%37.5%

Where they fail most

Every dot is a postcode area — size = how many were tested there, colour = share failing. Raw rates: coastal and rural areas run older fleets and salted roads.

Dundee (DD): 48.7% failing, 7,944 testsKirkcaldy (KY): 47.2% failing, 11,617 testsSalisbury (SP): 44.9% failing, 4,360 testsAberdeen (AB): 44.7% failing, 13,684 testsBristol (BS): 42.9% failing, 21,210 testsPerth (PH): 42.6% failing, 3,032 testsPlymouth (PL): 42.5% failing, 10,673 testsBrighton (BN): 42.5% failing, 11,918 testsPortsmouth (PO): 42.4% failing, 14,141 testsBournemouth (BH): 41.8% failing, 11,726 testsHuddersfield (HD): 41.7% failing, 4,788 testsExeter (EX): 41.5% failing, 12,149 testsLincoln (LN): 41.5% failing, 7,207 testsEdinburgh (EH): 41.2% failing, 20,292 testsTorquay (TQ): 41% failing, 5,041 testsHull (HU): 40.3% failing, 11,249 testsTruro (TR): 40.3% failing, 4,700 testsPaisley (PA): 40.2% failing, 6,698 testsCardiff (CF): 40.2% failing, 21,822 testsSwansea (SA): 39.9% failing, 14,393 testsDorchester (DT): 39.9% failing, 3,979 testsNewport (NP): 39.9% failing, 11,188 testsNorthampton (NN): 39.6% failing, 16,500 testsFalkirk (FK): 39.5% failing, 6,661 testsTaunton (TA): 39.5% failing, 5,335 testsCanterbury (CT): 39.5% failing, 9,479 testsBath (BA): 39.4% failing, 8,228 testsStockport (SK): 39.1% failing, 8,440 testsWatford (WD): 39% failing, 3,925 testsBlackpool (FY): 38.8% failing, 4,558 testsKirkwall (KW): 38.7% failing, 1,066 testsInverness (IV): 38.7% failing, 4,847 testsLlandudno (LL): 38.6% failing, 14,443 testsSunderland (SR): 38.6% failing, 4,305 testsSouthampton (SO): 38.5% failing, 12,656 testsHalifax (HX): 38.4% failing, 2,709 testsYork (YO): 38.2% failing, 11,434 testsStoke-on-Trent (ST): 38.2% failing, 14,165 testsStevenage (SG): 38.1% failing, 8,543 testsCleveland (TS): 38.1% failing, 12,947 testsSwindon (SN): 38.1% failing, 8,435 testsPreston (PR): 37.9% failing, 10,108 testsGloucester (GL): 37.8% failing, 12,140 testsDarlington (DL): 37.8% failing, 6,649 testsGuildford (GU): 37.7% failing, 12,266 testsLondon W (W): 37.7% failing, 1,730 testsWigan (WN): 37.6% failing, 6,075 testsCarlisle (CA): 37.6% failing, 4,576 testsMotherwell (ML): 37.6% failing, 9,877 testsGalashiels (TD): 37.5% failing, 3,317 testsOldham (OL): 37.5% failing, 8,275 testsNottingham (NG): 37.4% failing, 22,867 testsManchester (M): 37.2% failing, 21,245 testsChester (CH): 37.2% failing, 18,784 testsLancaster (LA): 37.1% failing, 5,220 testsMedway (ME): 36.9% failing, 14,634 testsNewcastle (NE): 36.9% failing, 23,809 testsColchester (CO): 36.8% failing, 7,134 testsLeeds (LS): 36.6% failing, 14,707 testsBradford (BD): 36.4% failing, 11,150 testsNorwich (NR): 36.4% failing, 15,395 testsRedhill (RH): 36.4% failing, 10,123 testsLondon N (N): 36.1% failing, 5,771 testsLondon SE (SE): 35.9% failing, 9,383 testsPeterborough (PE): 35.8% failing, 20,284 testsGlasgow (G): 35.5% failing, 28,907 testsIpswich (IP): 35.5% failing, 11,070 testsCrewe (CW): 35.5% failing, 8,078 testsSt Albans (AL): 35.4% failing, 5,037 testsHereford (HR): 35.2% failing, 3,122 testsDoncaster (DN): 35.2% failing, 14,952 testsWarrington (WA): 35.1% failing, 11,236 testsTonbridge (TN): 35% failing, 15,167 testsLiverpool (L): 35% failing, 11,894 testsBlackburn (BB): 34.9% failing, 10,626 testsHemel Hempstead (HP): 34.9% failing, 12,361 testsIlford (IG): 34.9% failing, 3,566 testsWorcester (WR): 34.8% failing, 5,137 testsKilmarnock (KA): 34.8% failing, 10,253 testsHarrow (HA): 34.7% failing, 5,414 testsMilton Keynes (MK): 34.6% failing, 13,413 testsWakefield (WF): 34.6% failing, 10,305 testsBolton (BL): 34.6% failing, 8,415 testsWolverhampton (WV): 34.5% failing, 9,851 testsDerby (DE): 34.3% failing, 16,926 testsCambridge (CB): 34.2% failing, 6,545 testsOxford (OX): 34.1% failing, 11,135 testsCoventry (CV): 34.1% failing, 13,714 testsDudley (DY): 34.1% failing, 9,904 testsReading (RG): 34.1% failing, 17,649 testsBirmingham (B): 33.8% failing, 36,246 testsSutton (SM): 33.7% failing, 2,653 testsLondon E (E): 33.6% failing, 7,047 testsShrewsbury (SY): 33.4% failing, 7,870 testsHarrogate (HG): 33.4% failing, 2,587 testsLuton (LU): 33.2% failing, 13,129 testsLondon NW (NW): 33.2% failing, 5,030 testsSlough (SL): 33.2% failing, 6,862 testsLeicester (LE): 33% failing, 20,326 testsCroydon (CR): 32.8% failing, 6,690 testsChelmsford (CM): 32.7% failing, 11,758 testsDurham (DH): 32.7% failing, 6,936 testsTelford (TF): 32.5% failing, 4,486 testsLondon SW (SW): 32.4% failing, 3,667 testsWalsall (WS): 32.3% failing, 10,280 testsSheffield (S): 32% failing, 28,054 testsEnfield (EN): 31.9% failing, 7,617 testsDartford (DA): 31.5% failing, 11,503 testsRomford (RM): 31.5% failing, 7,980 testsBromley (BR): 31.2% failing, 3,958 testsSouthend-on-Sea (SS): 30.7% failing, 9,468 testsDumfries (DG): 30.4% failing, 3,781 testsUxbridge (UB): 30.1% failing, 9,600 testsTwickenham (TW): 29.6% failing, 9,140 testsKingston upon Thames (KT): 20% failing, 10,869 tests % failing 31% 43%
Toughest areas% failing
Dundee (DD)48.65%
Kirkcaldy (KY)47.22%
Salisbury (SP)44.86%
Aberdeen (AB)44.65%
Bristol (BS)42.91%
Easiest areas% failing
Kingston upon Thames (KT)19.98%
Twickenham (TW)29.58%
Uxbridge (UB)30.05%
Dumfries (DG)30.36%
Southend-on-Sea (SS)30.74%

Does the test month matter?

Takeaway: the spread between best and worst month is 3.7 percentage points — noticeable seasonality.

38.22% in month 1 J35.51% in month 2 F34.68% in month 3 M37.68% in month 4 A35.61% in month 5 M35.88% in month 6 J36.69% in month 7 J36.64% in month 8 A35.6% in month 9 S38.41% in month 10 O37.83% in month 11 N37.66% in month 12 D 40% 23%

bars: Vauxhall Corsa · dashed: all class-4 cars

Month-by-month table
MonthVauxhall CorsaAll cars
Jan38.22%27.37%
Feb35.51%26.14%
Mar34.68%24.75%
Apr37.68%26.01%
May35.61%25.01%
Jun35.88%25.01%
Jul36.69%26.04%
Aug36.64%25.79%
Sep35.6%25.19%
Oct38.41%27.13%
Nov37.83%27.2%
Dec37.66%26.29%

Is the mileage normal?

A typical 8-year-old Corsa has ~53,162 miles on the clock. Much more — ask why; much less — check for gaps in the MOT history.

69121518car age, years 118k mi 0

line: median · band: middle half of the fleet (p25–p75)

Mileage by age (p25 / median / p75)
Agep25Medianp75Tests
520,88530,06741,45360,288
626,09537,42250,82273,688
732,51145,55560,64774,252
839,27153,16269,265106,831
944,61060,29277,336125,249
1049,75566,12584,277107,132
1154,83072,40691,242105,141
1259,22377,41296,111105,934
1362,76281,338100,83585,631
1464,34184,205104,17475,583
1567,90787,733107,91268,676
1669,65990,154110,61663,567
1770,78191,650112,36348,896
1863,63184,417105,51924,933
1961,92782,614104,35117,297
20+58,13480,41996,39048,329

Quick answers

What most commonly fails on a Vauxhall Corsa MOT?
The most frequent specific failures in 2024 were: steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated; a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened; a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources.
Is the Vauxhall Corsa reliable for its age?
Across 1,191,943 initial tests in 2024, it fails its MOT about 24% more often than expected for its age (MOT Risk Index 123.5, where 100 = normal for its age).
What mileage is normal for a 8-year-old Corsa?
The median is about 53,162 miles; the middle half of the fleet sits between 39,271 and 69,265.
How often are dangerous defects found on the Vauxhall Corsa?
About 14 dangerous defects were recorded per 100 initial tests in 2024 — with a dangerous defect the car legally cannot be driven away.

Compare with

Volkswagen Golf · 85.1Ford Focus · 106.9MINI Hatch · 85.5Vauxhall Astra · 109.1

Data details & how to cite

Scope: class-4 vehicles (cars), initial tests only, outcomes pass / fail / fixed-on-the-spot at the station (PRS counts towards the failure rate — the defect was present at arrival). Index = observed initial failures ÷ failures expected for this fleet's exact age profile, ×100; margin of error is a 95% confidence interval. Covers ALL generations together — a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old are very different cars; a generation split is on the roadmap. Dataset release dvsa-2024-v1, frozen baseline. Full method: methodology.

Cite: MOT Risk Index (2026). Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics 2024 (dvsa-2024-v1). https://motriskindex.co.uk/cars/vauxhall-corsa/ · Published 2026-07-30.