1996 Chevrolet Astro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1996 Chevrolet Astro passed 75.4% of its 272 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (24.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests against 11.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and rear fog lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1996 Astro fails 21.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 24.7% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.5% of tests failed in 2022 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 31 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.6% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.3% | 17 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.8% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 26 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 23 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 15 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.2% | 93 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.6% | 67 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 52 |
| 4 | Steering | 15.4% | 42 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.8% | 32 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 31 |
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 | 37 | 21.6% |
| 60-90k | 124 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 81 | 24.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 68 | 23.5% |
| 2023 | 74 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 66 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 59 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Astro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (7.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1996 Chevrolet Astros pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 272 1996 Chevrolet Astro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Chevrolet Astro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by brakes (11.4%).
Does the 1996 Astro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 30-60k band to 24.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 272 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.