In 2025, 22,039 Vauxhall Vectra cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 56% passed first time, compared with 58% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Vectra about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 160 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 16 years old, 57% of Vectras passed first time (all cars that age: 58%). By 20 years, that figure is 55% (all cars: 58%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 17 years (3 points behind).
Vauxhall Vectra All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Vectra passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 years | 1,264 | 57% | 58% | 116,600 |
| 17 years | 7,007 | 54% | 57% | 116,976 |
| 18 years | 6,075 | 55% | 57% | 120,181 |
| 19 years | 3,170 | 56% | 57% | 119,119 |
| 20 years | 1,449 | 55% | 58% | 121,392 |
What fails most on a Vauxhall Vectra
The area that lets the Vectra down most, relative to other cars, is brakes: 30.7% of tests failed on it, 3.1 times the rate for the average car.
Share of Vectra tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 11.7% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 9.7% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 8.4% |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | Brakes | 5.2% |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | Brakes | 5.0% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 4.5% |
What to check when buying a used Vectra
Based on where the Vectra fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. 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
- Body and structure: Get underneath with a torch: sills, jacking points, subframe mounts and floor pans. Structural rust is the failure that can make a car uneconomic to fix. 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 Vectra
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a VectraFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Vauxhall Vectra?
In 2025, 56% of Vauxhall Vectra cars passed their MOT first time, across 22,039 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 58%.
What do Vauxhall Vectra cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (11.7% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (9.7% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (8.4% 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.