In 2025, 58,761 Vauxhall Adam cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 66% passed first time, compared with 73% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Adam worse than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 203 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 6 years old, 78% of Adams passed first time (all cars that age: 84%). By 12 years, that figure is 63% (all cars: 66%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 8 years (12 points behind).
Vauxhall Adam All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Adam passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 years | 4,836 | 78% | 84% | 32,868 |
| 7 years | 5,468 | 72% | 81% | 40,854 |
| 8 years | 7,533 | 67% | 78% | 48,706 |
| 9 years | 9,439 | 65% | 75% | 53,746 |
| 10 years | 10,788 | 63% | 72% | 59,161 |
| 11 years | 13,191 | 62% | 69% | 66,219 |
| 12 years | 7,460 | 63% | 66% | 71,869 |
What fails most on a Vauxhall Adam
The area that lets the Adam down most, relative to other cars, is steering: 11.8% of tests failed on it, 5.4 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on lights and electrics and body and structure.
Share of Adam tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Steering | 10.9% |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | Suspension | 7.6% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 6.2% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.1% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.1% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.7% |
What to check when buying a used Adam
Based on where the Adam fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Adam
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a AdamFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Vauxhall Adam?
In 2025, 66% of Vauxhall Adam cars passed their MOT first time, across 58,761 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 73%.
What do Vauxhall Adam cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (10.9% of tests); a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (7.6% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (6.2% of tests).
Other Vauxhall models
Vauxhall Corsa (61%), Vauxhall Astra (65%), Vauxhall Mokka (66%), Vauxhall Insignia (67%), Vauxhall Zafira (62%), Vauxhall Vivaro (54%). All Vauxhall models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.