In 2025, 38,090 Vauxhall Viva cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 79% passed first time, compared with 77% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Viva about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 117 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, 85% of Vivas passed first time (all cars that age: 84%). By 10 years, that figure is 72% (all cars: 72%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 7 to 7 years.
Vauxhall Viva All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Viva passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 years | 4,082 | 85% | 84% | 30,040 |
| 7 years | 5,470 | 84% | 81% | 35,035 |
| 8 years | 9,674 | 81% | 78% | 41,444 |
| 9 years | 13,758 | 75% | 75% | 46,482 |
| 10 years | 5,104 | 72% | 72% | 49,084 |
What fails most on a Vauxhall Viva
The area that lets the Viva down most, relative to other cars, is tyres: 12.0% of tests failed on it, 1.4 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on lights and electrics and brakes.
Share of Viva tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | Tyres | 6.1% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 3.9% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.9% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 2.8% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.4% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 2.0% |
What to check when buying a used Viva
Based on where the Viva fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. 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
- 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
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 Viva
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a VivaFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Vauxhall Viva?
In 2025, 79% of Vauxhall Viva cars passed their MOT first time, across 38,090 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 77%.
What do Vauxhall Viva cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (6.1% of tests); wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen (3.9% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (2.9% 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.