In 2025, 81,092 Vauxhall Meriva cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 62% passed first time, compared with 65% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Meriva about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 170 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 8 years old, 74% of Merivas passed first time (all cars that age: 78%). By 20 years, that figure is 46% (all cars: 58%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 20 years (12 points behind).
Vauxhall Meriva All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Meriva passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 years | 4,445 | 74% | 78% | 46,838 |
| 9 years | 6,440 | 71% | 75% | 53,633 |
| 10 years | 8,078 | 69% | 72% | 60,366 |
| 11 years | 7,382 | 67% | 69% | 65,320 |
| 12 years | 7,354 | 63% | 66% | 71,823 |
| 13 years | 8,145 | 65% | 63% | 80,282 |
| 14 years | 12,939 | 63% | 61% | 89,372 |
| 15 years | 8,219 | 57% | 59% | 85,970 |
| 16 years | 4,278 | 50% | 58% | 82,426 |
| 17 years | 4,142 | 48% | 57% | 87,316 |
| 18 years | 3,616 | 50% | 57% | 88,113 |
| 19 years | 2,858 | 47% | 57% | 89,142 |
| 20 years | 1,700 | 46% | 58% | 90,409 |
What fails most on a Vauxhall Meriva
The area that lets the Meriva down most, relative to other cars, is suspension: 24.8% of tests failed on it, 1.8 times the rate for the average car.
Share of Meriva tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 12.0% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 5.9% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 5.4% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.6% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 3.5% |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | Emissions and leaks | 3.2% |
What to check when buying a used Meriva
Based on where the Meriva fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- 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
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
- Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
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 Meriva
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a MerivaFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Vauxhall Meriva?
In 2025, 62% of Vauxhall Meriva cars passed their MOT first time, across 81,092 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 65%.
What do Vauxhall Meriva cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (12.0% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.9% of tests); a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.4% 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.