Opel Astra MOT pass rate & common failures
1,377 MOT tests on the Opel Astra (1997–2021) give it a 73.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the Astra comes out 1.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.6% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 148 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Astra fails 24.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 27.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.4% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Astra model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 38 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 185 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 116 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 217 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 111 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 56 | 76.8% | 23.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 74 | 67.6% | 32.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 89 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 139 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 31 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 52 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 38 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 35 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 229 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.3% | 155 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 144 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 99 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 97 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 85 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.4% | 74 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.5% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 148 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 93 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 73 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 68 |
| 5 | Wipers | 68 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 62 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 59 |
| 8 | Washers | 56 |
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 | 37.2% | 512 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.8% | 411 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.4% | 363 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.8% | 314 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.5% | 255 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 193 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 41 | 24.4% |
| 30-60k | 140 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 386 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 362 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 206 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 234 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,088 | 27.2% |
| Diesel | 289 | 23.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 361 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 313 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 277 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 231 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 195 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a Opel Astra
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.3% 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.
- Brakes (10.5% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Opel Astra?
73.6% of the 1,377 Opel Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.4% fail rate, across model years 1997–2021.
What does the Opel Astra most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, then suspension (11.3%).
How much does mileage affect Astra MOT results?
Fail rates run at 24.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.4% for 150k+, a 3.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,377 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.