Vauxhall Corsa MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 648,658 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 62.1% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — below the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 81% of cars aged 3–5 years passed first time, against 52.8% aged 15–30 years.
Checking a Vauxhall Corsa?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 30,368 | 81% |
| 6–9 years | 197,352 | 71.3% |
| 10–14 years | 265,862 | 58.6% |
| 15–30 years | 155,076 | 52.8% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Vauxhall Corsa to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Springs — 5.9% of tests. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
- Exhaust Emissions — 5.2% of tests. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
- Headlamp Aim — 5% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Steering Linkage Components — 4.6% of tests. Worn track rod ends or joints. Affects steering and tyre wear, and is a normal age-related repair.
- Washers — 4.4% of tests. Empty or blocked washers. Trivial, but again a sign of the last owner's care.
- Stop Lamp — 4.3% of tests. A brake light out. Usually a bulb.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
How many Vauxhall Corsa are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 931,400 licensed and 107,113 SORN vehicles in the Vauxhall Corsa generic-model group.
Licensed and SORN trend for the Vauxhall Corsa
Before you buy
- Springs — 5.9% of tests in 2024. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
- Exhaust Emissions — 5.2% of tests in 2024. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
- Headlamp Aim — 5% of tests in 2024. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Steering Linkage Components — 4.6% of tests in 2024. Worn track rod ends or joints. Affects steering and tyre wear, and is a normal age-related repair.
- Check the actual Corsa — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other Vauxhall models
- Vauxhall Astra — 65% pass
- Vauxhall Mokka — 70.3% pass
- Vauxhall Zafira — 61.7% pass
- Vauxhall Insignia — 68.1% pass
- Vauxhall Vivaro — 53.6% pass
- Vauxhall Meriva — 63.2% pass
See every Vauxhall model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Vauxhall Corsa MOT pass rate?
62.1% of 648,658 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Vauxhall Corsa passed first time in 2024 — below the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the Corsa fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are springs (5.9% of tests), exhaust emissions (5.2% of tests), headlamp aim (5% of tests), steering linkage components (4.6% of tests).
How many Vauxhall Corsa are left in the UK?
931,400 were licensed and 107,113 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
Does this tell me whether one particular Corsa is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.