1995 Chevrolet Astro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1995 Chevrolet Astro passed 72.9% of its 258 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.1% of the time, so this is 3.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.8% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, catalyst emissions and ball joint — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 33 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 23.8% versus 18.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.1% of tests failed in 2022 against 31.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 51 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 42 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.4% | 19 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 18 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 17 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.2% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 33 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 17 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 15 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 14 |
| 6 | Switch | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 31.0% | 80 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.9% | 59 |
| 3 | Steering | 14.3% | 37 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 34 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 30 |
| 6 | Tyres | 11.2% | 29 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 49 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 109 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 69 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 59 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 65 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 57 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Astro
On a 1995 Astro, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (7.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1995 Chevrolet Astros pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 258 1995 Chevrolet Astro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Chevrolet Astro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.8% of tests, followed by brakes (16.3%).
Does the 1995 Astro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 30-60k band to 23.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 258 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.