Opel Manta MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 37 model years and 1,117 tests, the Opel Manta passes its MOT 88.5% of the time. That is 8.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.2%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.9% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 50 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.1% in the 0-30k band and 14.4% in the 90-120k band, a 4.3-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 8.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.6% in 2021 to 9.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Manta model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 64 | 95.3% | 4.7% | Brakes |
| 1984 | 154 | 87.7% | 12.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 222 | 84.7% | 15.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 168 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 237 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Brakes |
| 1988 | 217 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 99 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.6% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 45 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 33 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 27 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.8% | 9 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 8 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 47 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 29 |
| 4 | Non catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 25 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 24 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 24 |
| 8 | Washers | 24 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 96 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.2% | 92 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.8% | 87 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 73 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 69 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.8% | 42 |
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 | 347 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 317 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 269 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 146 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 250 | 13.6% |
| 2022 | 233 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 234 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 200 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 200 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a Opel Manta
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% 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 (4.0% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Opel Manta?
88.5% of the 1,117 Opel Manta MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.5% fail rate, across model years 1980–2016.
What does the Opel Manta most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, then brakes (4.6%).
How much does mileage affect Manta MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.4% for 90-120k, a 4.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,117 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.